← All careers

Law & Government

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

Median salary (BLS)

$106,040

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$63k – $165k

Job outlook

+3% (about average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$200–$5,150

Time to qualify

1 yr

Renewal

  1. 1

    High school diploma or GED

    Course

    Expected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.

    $0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    On-the-job training

    Experience

    Employer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.

    Cost varies · 3 months source

  3. 3

    Bar exam / state licensure / academy

    License

    Lawyers: the state bar exam. Public-safety roles: a training academy plus state certification.

    $200–$5,000 · 6 months · varies by state source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

    Entry / Junior

    $63,350

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

    Established

    $106,040

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

    Senior

    $135,575

Key skills

A typical day

  • Supervise and coordinate the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators, and ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.
  • Prepare work schedules and assign duties to subordinates.
  • Direct collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
  • Investigate and resolve personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
  • Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Law & Government

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.