Police Chief Careers

In any police department, the chief of police is the head of the organization.  These highly experienced, veteran law enforcement leaders are instrumental in developing the crime fighting strategies that help ensure public safety within their jurisdictions.

Most chiefs of police have been appointed to the position by their local government, typically the mayor’s office.  The success and longevity of police chief careers are heavily dependent upon the performance of the police department. This means that a police chief can be replaced due to a rise in criminal activity or in the wake of departmental improprieties committed by the officers in his command.

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Unlike other police careers within the department, the chief operates within a political environment.  They must answer to the civilian leadership and be able to produce results on that can be felt throughout the community.  Even a single crime involving bad publicity can undermine the public perception of the chief, and his job security.

Chiefs of police are devoted to the job, their department and the community.  It is not unusual for chiefs to spend 14 hours a day at work, and many are unable to completely leave their professional responsibilities behind.  With email and mobile devices, most chiefs are on call virtually 24 hours a day.

Most of chiefs of police possess at least a bachelor’s degree, and a large number have advanced degrees, like a master’s or a doctorate.

Responsibilities and Jobs Duties of a Police Chief

In order to effectively manage the law enforcement organization over which they preside, police chiefs must perform the following duties:

  • Develop budgets that adequately support law enforcement objectives
  • Institute professional performance standards
    • Develop training programs and ethical standards
    • Introduce standards for promotion and salary increased
    • Define penalties for inappropriate conduct
    • Produce policies regarding cultural sensitivity and other socioeconomic issues
  • Develop patrol and crime prevention strategies
  • Maintain and upgrade equipment
  • Coordinate policies with other emergency responders including county police, fire and medical
  • Maintain and improve relationships with the community

Education Requirements for the Chief of Police

Despite the heavy demands placed on police chiefs, there is stiff competition for these jobs, both from within and from outside of the department.  Many of the most high profile police chief jobs in the PDs of major cities draw hundreds of applicants.  Furthermore, city officials often conduct exhaustive searches throughout the country to identify and recruit the most qualified police veterans.

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In order to compete among this pool of highly qualified candidates, prospective police chiefs should obtain as much academic expertise in law enforcement as possible to meet the job requirements. Not only do advanced degrees indicate the intellectual proficiency to manage a police department, but a college education also helps provide graduates with the latest methods and techniques used by other law enforcement agencies in combating crime.

There are numerous majors that police officers can study that will improve their chances of obtaining a chief of police career, including:

  • Public administration
  • Intelligence
  • Police leadership
  • Information systems
  • Criminal investigation
  • Justice and security
  • Justice studies
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Communications

Ascending Through the Ranks to Become Chief of Police

There is no set path to becoming the chief of police.  All police officers begin their careers as uniformed officers, but they may advance their careers through a variety of departments including financial crimes, homicide, or narcotics.  It is often highly beneficial to have a diverse professional history within the department that includes, patrol, administration and investigations.  This experience enables police leaders to understand the needs and processes of the three major branches of police organizations.

Most police organizations have a tiered structure in which officers must advance before obtaining the chief of police job. Although it is important to have a diverse background, it is more important to demonstrate leadership capacity for these jobs.  This involves demonstrating skill in supervisory jobs at the sergeant, lieutenant and captain ranks.

Most organizations require several years in the rank below that of chief.  This enables candidates to recognize the hefty responsibilities associated with the chief job as well as gain an understanding of the political ramifications.  In some smaller police forces, there may only be a limited number of ranks, so that ascension to the police chief position is available at an earlier stage in the career of senior officers.

There may be requisite skills that a police chief must possess in order to perform their duties.  In some communities, multi-lingual proficiency is a necessity.  In others, city governments may be seeking candidates with experience fighting specific types of crime like gangs or organized crime.

Police Chief Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), first-line supervisors of police and detectives, including police chiefs, earned an average salary of $98,760 as of May 2021. Police chiefs working for local law enforcement agencies earned an average salary of $96,450, while those working for state law enforcement agencies earned an average salary of $104,390 during this time.

The following BLS table reveals what police first-line supervisors of police and detectives were earning at all levels, by state, as of May 2021:

Area Name
Annual 25th percentile wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Alabama
38070
60750
Alaska
66600
102000
Arizona
60750
77350
Arkansas
36100
48390
California
80420
125310
Colorado
64610
97480
Connecticut
63380
81380
Delaware
64800
100890
District of Columbia
68470
100800
Florida
51230
78540
Georgia
40360
61040
Hawaii
78540
78830
Idaho
47850
64610
Illinois
65470
101730
Indiana
50630
70990
Iowa
51990
79350
Kansas
40190
61190
Kentucky
38130
50970
Louisiana
37100
50960
Maine
48140
63960
Maryland
61970
97480
Massachusetts
60930
79310
Michigan
51410
76670
Minnesota
63280
92910
Mississippi
29960
46840
Missouri
40190
71570
Montana
48390
66020
Nebraska
48290
76010
Nevada
61010
96270
New Hampshire
50960
76880
New Jersey
65020
107710
New Mexico
47310
60040
New York
61190
100050
North Carolina
40360
61190
North Dakota
50960
75160
Ohio
57290
78830
Oklahoma
39890
72090
Oregon
65440
83580
Pennsylvania
60670
89270
Rhode Island
62010
79400
South Carolina
40360
53750
South Dakota
40430
60750
Tennessee
39290
60670
Texas
55610
77430
Utah
48290
76010
Vermont
48290
63970
Virginia
47740
68080
Washington
79330
103440
West Virginia
39990
50970
Wisconsin
60610
81020
Wyoming
48640
64540

2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for first-line supervisors of police and detectives. Job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2022.

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