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Police inspector

Also called superintendent, chief inspector, inspector of police

Police inspectors coordinate and supervise a division in a police department. They ensure the division's compliance with rules and regulations, and monitor the performance of personnel as well as assigning tasks to them. They perform administrative duties to ensure the maintenance of records and reports, and may also develop regulatory guidelines.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects25 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree5 in 10 have a degree. 4 in 10 train through vocational routes.Business and administration associate professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Police inspectors and detectives · ILO

What you'd do

Police inspectors and detectives · ILO
  • Establishing contacts and sources of information about crimes planned or committed, in order to prevent crimes or identify suspected offenders
  • Obtaining and verifying evidence by examining crime and accident scenes for clues and physical evidence, interviewing witnesses and suspects and analysing documents and computer files
  • Analysing evidence in order to solve crimes, identify criminal activity and gather information for court cases
  • Establishing contacts and sources of information not readily available or apparent concerning establishments or the circumstances and behaviour of persons, usually with the aim of preventing a crime
  • Making arrests
  • Testifying in courts of law or reporting to superiors about circumstances and results of investigations
Examine crime scenesForm operational strategies for law enforcementEnsure law applicationHandle case evidenceDevelop investigation strategy+ 3 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration associate professionals in the EU
13.29m14.1m14.28m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
55,000 new jobs 3,460,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration associate professionals25
All jobs29
Right now
7 of 27 countries report a shortage of police inspectors and detectives, 2 a surplus.
Police inspectors and detectives · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in protection of persons and property is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 51%Vocational 31%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 6%
Fields that teach it
Protection of persons and property · Law · Sociology and cultural studies
Vocational route, EU
4 in 10 trainees in this field
Services graduates in a matching job
59% in the EU

819 institutions in the EU offer services bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.23 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Establishing contacts and sources of information not readily available or apparent concerning establishments or the circumstances and behaviour of persons, usually with the aim of preventing a crime0.28
Analysing evidence in order to solve crimes, identify criminal activity and gather information for court cases0.27
Obtaining and verifying evidence by examining crime and accident scenes for clues and physical evidence, interviewing witnesses and suspects and analysing documents and computer files0.26
Testifying in courts of law or reporting to superiors about circumstances and results of investigations0.25
Establishing contacts and sources of information about crimes planned or committed, in order to prevent crimes or identify suspected offenders0.23
Making arrests0.10

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for police inspectors and detectives. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).