First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives Salary in Washington, DC
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $125,960 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,622 take-home, or $7,468 a month.
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- Federal income tax$18,964
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,810
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,826
- District of Columbia income tax$7,738
- Take-home pay$89,622
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,770 | $43.16 | $67,321 | $5,610 |
| 25th percentile | $107,170 | $51.52 | $78,083 | $6,507 |
| Median (50th) | $125,960 | $60.56 | $89,622 | $7,468 |
| 75th percentile | $160,610 | $77.22 | $110,360 | $9,197 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 | $131,718 | $10,977 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,960 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median first-line supervisor of police and detectives's $89,622 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,309 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.6× the national concentration of first-line supervisor of police and detectives jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for first-line supervisors of police and detectives, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #7 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $167,600 | $112,285 | $98,872 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $135,080 | $97,052 | $93,684 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $119,540 | $89,257 | $87,034 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $124,660 | $90,868 | $86,966 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $127,570 | $98,460 | $86,251 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $135,270 | $96,782 | $85,981 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $125,960 | $89,622 | $82,309 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $108,190 | $79,752 | $73,663 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: first-line supervisors of police and detectives
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.3% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a first-line supervisor of police and detectives make in Washington, DC?
The median first-line supervisor of police and detectives salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $125,960 a year, or about $60.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $107,170 and $160,610.
What is a first-line supervisor of police and detectives’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $125,960 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $89,622 a year ($7,468 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,738 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a first-line supervisor of police and detectives?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $106,040. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,309 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #7 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a first-line supervisor of police and detectives afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median first-line supervisor of police and detectives’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
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- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $84,000
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $73,490
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $70,570
- Firefighter — $66,980
- Security Guard — $46,830
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $34,710