ANZSCO 4413

Police

Overview

EMPLOYED

67,100

PART-TIME SHARE

6%

FEMALE SHARE

25%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

$2,422

MEDIAN AGE

40

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

-400

About this data

Summary

Police protect and preserve property, public order and safety through the enforcement of laws.

Tasks

  • Investigating and prosecuting offences committed in areas such as organised, corporate and computer crime, environmental offences, drug trafficking, fraud, counterfeiting and terrorism
  • Securing and examining scenes of crimes and accidents to locate and obtain evidence for analysis
  • Protecting witnesses and investigating official corruption
  • Maintaining public order and safety
  • Patrolling assigned areas to minimise potential for public disturbance and crime
  • Investigating accidents, crimes, minor offences and citizens' complaints, gathering evidence, and pursuing, arresting and interviewing suspected offenders
  • Testing persons suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and issuing infringement notices for traffic offences
  • Directing and re-routing traffic at congested areas
  • Attending community meetings and answering inquiries from the public where necessary
  • Providing advice and assistance to victims of crime and their families
  • Maintaining records and preparing reports

ANZSCO Classification

Details

On this page

    Earnings and Hours

    Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
    Source: Share of workers who work full-time hours: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Average full-time hours worked per week: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Median full-time earnings per week and Median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023, customised report.
    Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Earnings and Hours Police All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 94% 70%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 43 hours 44 hours
    Median full-time earnings per week $2,422 $1,697
    Median hourly earnings $63 $43

    Industries

    Police work in industries like:

    Source: Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average data, custom report.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    30.3%

    Victoria

    26.2%

    Queensland

    18.1%

    South Australia

    6.8%

    Tasmania

    2.1%

    Northern Territory

    4.6%

    Australian Capital Territory

    2.2%

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, August 2024, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Age and Gender Police All Occupations
    Median age 40 years 39 years
    Female share of employment 25% 48%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Police
    15–19 5.2 0.2
    20–24 9.1 4.5
    25–34 22.7 26.8
    35–44 22.3 29.5
    45–54 20.4 28.7
    55–59 8.8 7.6
    60–64 6.5 2.2
    65 and Over 4.9 0.4

    Education

    Visit

    • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
    • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
    • Your Career to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Police
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 6.5
    Bachelor degree 23.2 24.4
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 43.1
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 8.0
    Year 12 15.9 11.7
    Year 11 4.0 1.4
    Year 10 and below 9.7 1.2
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      Occupation profiles data

      This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

      Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      Occupation profiles data - November 2024.xlsx

      occupation_profiles_data_-_november_2024.xlsx946664

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      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.