Human edge, steady

First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

AI Resistance Index 75 of 99

More resilient than most: more resilient than 75% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +3.3% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and ethical judgement.

AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.

Median pay (2025): $106,040
Job growth to 2035: +3.3%
Openings a year: 10,600
People doing it (2025): 160,000
Usual route in: High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training

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Where people already use AI for this work

Explain regulations, policies, or procedures
Maintain safety or security
Examine materials or documentation for accuracy or compliance

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Direct legal activities
Train others on operational or work procedures
Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations

What the work looks like

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.
Prepare work schedules and assign duties to subordinates.
Direct collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
Investigate and resolve personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workersHuman edge, growing, Index 85, +3.7%
First-line supervisors of security workersHuman edge, growing, Index 80, +3.7%
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialistsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +13.1%
Fire inspectors and investigatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 79, +4.2%

Also known as: Lieutenant, Patrol Sergeant, Police Captain, Police Sergeant, Captain, Deputy Sheriff, Detective Sergeant, Police Chief.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.