Police and Public Safety Administration Degree Programs in New Orleans, LA (2026)
Quick answer: The New Orleans metro employs about 770 police and detective supervisors (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state peace officer standards and training commission.
Compare police and public safety administration programs enrolling now:
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Sworn officers are certified by a state peace-officer standards and training commission, not by a degree, and promotion to sergeant or above is governed by the employing agency’s own process. What a degree does here is satisfy the educational requirement many agencies attach to command ranks and to federal law enforcement hiring. Requirements differ agency by agency as well as state by state.
See the Louisiana licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state peace officer standards and training commission.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
We do not have campus-based schools on record within 250 miles of this area right now. School availability changes as programs open and close, and many programs in this field enroll online - see the main program page for options that are not tied to your location. Know a school we missed? Tell us.
What First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Earn in New Orleans
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives in the New Orleans area earn a median $75,740 per year, below the national median of $106,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Police and Public Safety Administration Pay in New Orleans, LA
| Metric | New Orleans metro | Louisiana | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $75,740 | $70,470 | $106,040 |
| 10th percentile | $57,790 | $47,810 | $63,350 |
| 25th percentile | $58,730 | $55,890 | $81,860 |
| 75th percentile | $80,760 | $77,320 | $132,620 |
| 90th percentile | $96,820 | $94,990 | $165,110 |
| Employment | 770 | 3,120 | 154,610 |
| Location quotient | 1.74 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The New Orleans median of $75,740 is below the national median of $106,040, and above the Louisiana statewide median of $70,470 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.74 means police and detective supervisors are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Command positions exist where the agencies are. Metro population, the number of municipal departments and the presence of state or federal offices all drive demand.
Other Louisiana Metro Areas
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $74,450 | 580 |
| Shreveport | $74,780 | 480 |
| Slidell | $75,340 | 200 |
| Houma | $57,220 | 170 |
| Lake Charles | $72,230 | 150 |
| Alexandria | $63,500 | 140 |
| Lafayette | $58,070 | 130 |
| Monroe | $53,770 | 100 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do police and detective supervisors make in New Orleans?
The median annual wage for police and detective supervisors in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $75,740, below the national median of $106,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many police and detective supervisors work in the New Orleans area?
The New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area employs about 770 police and detective supervisors (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do police and detective supervisors in New Orleans need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Sworn officers are certified by a state peace-officer standards and training commission, not by a degree, and promotion to sergeant or above is governed by the employing agency's own process. What a degree does here is satisfy the educational requirement many agencies attach to command ranks and to federal law enforcement hiring. Requirements differ agency by agency as well as state by state. Confirm current requirements with your state peace officer standards and training commission.
Can I study police and public safety administration online from New Orleans?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state peace officer standards and training commission.
Is New Orleans a better market than the rest of Louisiana?
The New Orleans metro median is $75,740 against a statewide median of $70,470 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
Related
- Police and Public Safety Administration degree programs in Louisiana - statewide pay, licensing and metro comparison
- Police and Public Safety Administration programs and how to choose one
- Firefighter career profile - the trade career this degree path builds on
- All online degree paths for tradespeople
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (SOC 33-1012), national, state and metropolitan estimates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.