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Salary comparison

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives out-earn Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by $30K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives land at $106,040 and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers at $76,210. The education gap is real: first-line supervisors of police and detectif programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while police and sheriff's patrol officer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives is California ($163,960); for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers it's California ($118,880).

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Median salary
$106,040
$76,210
Hourly rate
$50.98/hr
$36.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$63,350
$47,510
Senior level (90th %)
$165,110
$115,120
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
154,610
670,520
Job growth (10-year)
2.9%
3.1%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
California
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives median pay.

State
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
California
$163,960
$118,880
New Jersey
$142,990
$92,610
Hawaii
$140,590
$83,820
Alaska
$137,320
$99,130
Washington
$136,280
$102,080
Illinois
$135,080
$100,520
District of Columbia
$134,760
$88,650
Delaware
$131,080
$92,970
Colorado
$126,810
$97,350
New York
$124,080
$92,790
Oregon
$122,130
$88,140
Minnesota
$118,750
$83,360
Connecticut
$109,360
$82,170
Massachusetts
$104,320
$78,940
Pennsylvania
$102,400
$85,470

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives earn more nationally. The median is $106,040 for First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives versus $76,210 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, a difference of $30K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers has the better 10-year outlook at 3.1% projected growth, compared to 2.9% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives at $163,960/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives earn $163,960 vs. $118,880 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives salary breakdownView →Full Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary breakdownView →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by take-home payExplore →How to become a first-line supervisors of police and detectivesGuide →How to become a police and sheriff's patrol officersGuide →