What Does a Deputy Chief of Police Do?
A deputy chief of police serves as a senior law enforcement executive, assisting the chief of police in commanding department operations, setting policy, and ensuring public safety across the jurisdiction.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Captain, Deputy Sheriff, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant, Patrol Sergeant, Police Captain, Police Chief, Police Lieutenant.
Deputy Chief of Police Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a deputy chief of police include:
- Assist the chief of police in overall department management and leadership
- Oversee major operational divisions (patrol, investigations, support services)
- Develop and implement department policies, procedures, and strategic plans
- Manage department budgets and allocate resources across divisions
- Represent the department at community meetings and government proceedings
- Review and evaluate department performance metrics and crime statistics
- Handle internal affairs investigations and personnel actions
- Coordinate with other law enforcement agencies on joint operations
- Act as chief of police in their absence
- Mentor and develop command staff and supervisory personnel
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a deputy chief of police, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Extensive law enforcement knowledge and experience
- Executive leadership and organizational management
- Strategic planning and policy development
- Budget management and resource allocation
- Public speaking and community relations
- Crisis management and decision-making
- Personnel management and labor relations
- Political awareness and intergovernmental relations
Education and Training
A bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field (master's degree often preferred). 15-20+ years of progressive law enforcement experience, including command-level positions. Completion of executive leadership programs (FBI National Academy, PERF Senior Management Institute) is common.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $81,860 - $132,620 per year, with a median of $106,040.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives.
BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of police and detectives to grow about 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 10,600 openings a year. Deputy chief positions are highly competitive within law enforcement. This role is the primary stepping stone to chief of police. Strong candidates demonstrate both operational expertise and administrative leadership.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, First-line supervisors of police and detectives.
Deputy Chief of Police Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $63,350 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $81,860 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $106,040 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $132,620 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $165,110 |
Highest-Paying States for Deputy Chief of Polices
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are California ($163,960), New Jersey ($142,990), Hawaii ($140,590), Alaska ($137,320), Washington ($136,280). Pay is lowest in Louisiana ($70,470), Arkansas ($62,290), Mississippi ($59,860).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $75,970 |
| Alaska | $137,320 |
| Arizona | $104,850 |
| Arkansas | $62,290 |
| California | $163,960 |
| Colorado | $126,810 |
| Connecticut | $109,360 |
| Delaware | $131,080 |
| District of Columbia | $134,760 |
| Florida | $100,880 |
| Georgia | $80,120 |
| Hawaii | $140,590 |
| Idaho | $94,920 |
| Illinois | $135,080 |
| Indiana | $81,540 |
| Iowa | $98,840 |
| Kansas | $82,950 |
| Kentucky | $80,390 |
| Louisiana | $70,470 |
| Maine | $92,350 |
| Maryland | $120,700 |
| Massachusetts | $104,320 |
| Michigan | $98,140 |
| Minnesota | $118,750 |
| Mississippi | $59,860 |
| Missouri | $94,440 |
| Montana | $89,380 |
| Nebraska | $106,100 |
| Nevada | $132,100 |
| New Hampshire | $100,060 |
| New Jersey | $142,990 |
| New Mexico | $92,200 |
| New York | $124,080 |
| North Carolina | $91,100 |
| North Dakota | $98,300 |
| Ohio | $98,380 |
| Oklahoma | $82,830 |
| Oregon | $122,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $102,400 |
| Rhode Island | $97,690 |
| South Carolina | $73,700 |
| South Dakota | $87,810 |
| Tennessee | $74,770 |
| Texas | $111,000 |
| Utah | $110,500 |
| Vermont | $99,280 |
| Virginia | $101,230 |
| Washington | $136,280 |
| West Virginia | $74,280 |
| Wisconsin | $97,120 |
| Wyoming | $91,400 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as first-line supervisors of police and detectives about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% are on the phone every day
- 95% use email every day
- 91% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 90% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
- 78% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 62% work outdoors in all kinds of weather every day
- 61% have a lot of freedom to make decisions
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 56% |
| Some college | 20% |
| Bachelor's degree | 19% |
Tools and Software Deputy Chief of Polices Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy leading, persuading and making business decisions as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness.
Knowledge areas used most: Public Safety and Security, Law and Government, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, English Language.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 33-1012.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.