Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: $94K vs $106K Median Pay

Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: what changes?

Consider Detectives and Criminal Investigators if you want to conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes. Consider First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives if you would rather directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Detectives and Criminal Investigators (less than 5 years) and First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Detectives and Criminal Investigators and First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

National median pay (2025): $93,790
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 7,800

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Detectives and Criminal Investigators brief

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

National median pay (2025): $106,040
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: 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.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 10,600

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives brief

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives has the edge on projected growth

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives is at 3.3% projected growth, compared with 0.2% projected growth for Detectives and Criminal Investigators.

Typical preparation differs.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives has the edge on median pay

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives is at $106,040, compared with $93,790 for Detectives and Criminal Investigators.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives is at 10,600 annual openings, compared with 7,800 annual openings for Detectives and Criminal Investigators.

56.4/ 100

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

71.2/ 100

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Dimension	Detectives and Criminal Investigators	First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Median pay (2025)	$93,790	$106,040
Pay percentile	78.6 percentile	86.7 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	0.2%	3.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	7,800	10,600
2025 employment	120,500	160,200
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Detectives and Criminal Investigators brief Read First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives brief

Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives has the edge on median pay

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives has the edge on annual openings

Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

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