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Like any career, police officers have their own ladder which allows them to move up the ranks and increase their salary. As a police officer climbs up the ranks, they are also able to enjoy greater benefits and responsibilities, such as leading a team or holding political appointments. Although not easy, it’s not impossible to go from a rookie patrol cop to being the chief of your department. There are various ranks police officers must climb, but at the end, going up the ladder is worth it for patrol officers and detectives alike. It’s important to note that salary can increase while moving up the ladder, but this widely depends on the state you are in as well.
What are the Ranks of Police Officers?
There are various ranks for a police officer to move up. From lowest to highest, here are their ranks and the type of pay you might expect to see as well as their responsibilities.
Patrol officer or Police Officer
A patrol officer or police officer is the first rank in the chain of command. A police officer’s duties involve:
- Directly stopping crime
- Interacting with the community on an everyday basis
- Reporting back to their supervisor all of their findings and doing paperwork
- Conducting traffic stops
- Acting as first responders and providing limited medical aid
These are just some of the many job duties that a patrol officer or police officer will perform during a given day. Within the police officer field, there are other types of officers such as police officer II personnel and even field training officers. While these police officers might not necessarily achieve a huge boost in pay or rank (typically a salary increase is around 5%), it does bring them better responsibilities and can help them achieve higher ranks within their career.
For instance, a field training officer is in charge of making sure police recruits and new police officers straight out of the academy are getting the training and experience they need to provide the best policing possible.
Salary for a police officer ranges widely according to the state you’re living in. There are certain benefits to living in a state that has a higher cost of living, since this translates to higher earnings for police officers in states like New York. At the upper end of the spectrum, a police officer in California can make upwards of $105,000 per year, while in Mississippi, police officers make a little over $36,000 a year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a police officer is $66,020 per year as of 2019. This isn’t bad, considering the many career options available for police officers and the little to no need for formal education or a bachelor’s degree.
Police Detective
A police detective is perhaps the most well-known of the police officer ranks. A detective is responsible for solving crimes such as:
- Homicides
- Arson
- Gang-related crimes
- Sexual abuse crimes
- Theft and robberies
- Financial crimes
Different departments will have different types of detectives, as well as have different requirements to become a detective. It’s important to note that detectives must be patrol officers or spend time as a police officer before becoming a detective. Hence, they are more experienced than a regular police officer would be and have additional responsibilities related to solving crimes.
Although they are under the same pay as police officers, detectives do have certain perks. For instance, certain police departments, such as the Los Angeles Police Department, allow their detectives to wear business casual clothing while working and they are working mostly out of an office setting.
Police Corporal
The annual salary of a police corporal is slightly higher than a regular police officer at a little over $68,000 per year according to Glassdoor. A police corporal can act as a lead during emergency situations. Like other police officers, a police corporal gets paid by the hour instead of being on salary. They also wear distinct markings on their uniform, including two chevrons. As such, a police corporal might also be given a uniform allowance so they can maintain their uniform and insignias in decent condition.
Police Sergeant
A police sergeant is the first major promotion in a police department. It’s the job of a police sergeant to watch over different shifts (morning, evening or swing, night shift). To be a police sergeant, an officer must pass an exam and show that they are capable of being in charge of a team of officers. The starting salary for a police sergeant is around $70,500, higher than the base pay for a regular law enforcement officer.
Promotional opportunities for police sergeants tend to arise multiple times a year, so it’s best to speak with your department about how to get ready to become a police sergeant and ways to speed up your advancement. The sooner you ask about career opportunities and prepare for the sergeant exam, the sooner you can wear the three chevrons of a sergeant.
Police Lieutenant
A police lieutenant has an average annual salary of around $80,000. That’s not bad for a starting salary! A police lieutenant wears a gold bar to distinguish themselves among the rest of the officers. They are in charge of police sergeants, and can also be in charge of specialized units among detectives working special cases. Police lieutenants in the United States are also known as other titles in different countries, such as a chief inspector in the United Kingdom.
Police Captain
A police captain ranks higher than a police lieutenant and brings in a slightly (on average) higher salary at around $81,000. Police captains can make financial decisions in regards to staffing, allocation of resources, and overtime within the police department. They work closely with the deputy and assistant chiefs of a police department, and can also determine whether they will be hiring new recruits, giving out incentive pay and bonuses, and more.
A police captain rank can be achieved through regular promotions in the civil service. Ranks after this are usually appointed by the police commissioner or members of other higher ranks. One of the benefits of being a police captain is having the ability and experience to be chosen for these higher positions.
Deputy Chief / Assistant Chief
Below the assistant chief in some law enforcement departments is the deputy chief. Both of these positions are usually chosen by the police commissioner. Assistant police chiefs and deputy chiefs might be in charge of various city departments. For instance, in New York, deputy chiefs are in charge of different boroughs. The salary for deputy chiefs in law enforcement is around $88,000 per year.
Chief of the Department
The chief of the department is the highest ranking official in charge of the entire city’s police department. They work together with their deputy chiefs, assistant chiefs, and police captains to allocate resources and determine hardline funding for a department. The chief of a law enforcement department is usually chosen by the mayor, making them a political appointee. They also have the power to appoint deputy chiefs and assistant chiefs. They have a high base salary of around $113,000 per year.
Police Commissioner
A police commissioner is used in certain departments in the United States, such as the New York City Police Department. Not all police commissioners are sworn police officers. They might be civilians appointed by the mayor, and they can also have assistant police commissioners that outrank some uniformed officers. In cases like this, a police commissioner can set policies that directly impact the day to day activities of police officers in the field. Because of this, civilian police commissioners will have help from a deputy assistant chief that is a sworn police officer. A police commissioner has a high salary of around $153,000.
Are the Ranks the Same for All Departments?
The ranks can differ in many departments. Some might include colonels and majors, such as in the Baltimore police department. In addition, departments such as the Sheriffs department will have completely different ranks and higher-ranking officials. For instance, a Sheriff might be equivalent to a deputy chief. Federal, state, and local departments will usually have an organizational chart that can clarify any ranks.
How Do I Improve My Rank and Salary?
Higher education and good evaluations go a long way in helping you improve your pay scale and promotional opportunities. A college degree, such as a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, can help you stand out among the rest of the crowd. Networking with other officials and constantly asking about career opportunities can also make a good impression and help you improve your rank.
Final Thoughts
Police officers can start off as patrol cops and foot soldiers that play an important role in everyday community policing, rising through the ranks and becoming responsible for more and more officers. There are a vast amount of opportunities for advancing within a department, so officers should continue to explore new opportunities to advance their responsibilities and pay.
