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Police

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

Public safety & defenceANZSCO 4413
$2,560/wkMedian full-time pay
70kPeople employed
+11% ▲Growth to 2035
95%Work full time
40Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 4413.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

investigating and prosecuting offences committed in areas such as organised, corporate and computer crime, environmental offences, drug trafficking, fraud, counterfeiting and terrorismsecuring and examining scenes of crimes and accidents to locate and obtain evidence for analysisprotecting witnesses and investigating official corruptionmaintaining public order and safetypatrolling assigned areas to minimise potential for public disturbance and crimeinvestigating accidents, crimes, minor offences and citizens' complaints, gathering evidence, and pursuing, arresting and interviewing suspected offenders
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 4413 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 7,400 more people in police by 2035 ▲

The field grew 1.3% in the year to February 2026, adding about 900 workers. Most of the jobs are in NSW and VIC, with QLD third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 4413.More about our sources: How we check our facts
67.5k2025
71.6k2030 PROJ.
74.9k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

Most police came through a certificate or diploma. 51% did.

A university degree is rare here: 31% hold one. The trade qualification is the standard way in. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 4413. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

PUA30322Certificate III

Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue)

Public Safety.

See 2 providers
POL50124Diploma

Diploma of Policing

Police Training Package.

See 2 providers
11000NATAdvanced Diploma

Advanced Diploma of Policing

See 1 provider
See all 21 mapped courses
PUA30322Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue) · 2 providers
POL50124Diploma of Policing · 2 providers
11000NATAdvanced Diploma of Policing · 1 provider
11211NATCertificate IV in Technical Surveillance · 1 provider
POL84324Graduate Certificate in Crime Scene Investigation · 1 provider
POL80225Graduate Certificate in Police Management · 1 provider
POL60121Advanced Diploma of Police Close Personal Protection · 0 providers
POL65125Advanced Diploma of Police Investigation · 0 providers
POL60626Advanced Diploma of Police Search and Rescue Management · 0 providers
POL60118Advanced Diploma of Police Supervision · 0 providers
POL60521Advanced Diploma of Police Witness Protection · 0 providers
POL62422Advanced Diploma of Surveillance · 0 providers
POL30125Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community Policing · 0 providers
POL41225Certificate IV in Protective Services · 0 providers
PUA42619Certificate IV in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue Management) · 0 providers
POL50325Diploma of Crash Analysis · 0 providers
POL50125Diploma of Crash Investigation · 0 providers
POL50226Diploma of Police Bomb Technical Response · 0 providers
POL50726Diploma of Police Search and Rescue Coordination · 0 providers
POL80125Graduate Certificate in Police Investigation · 0 providers
POL87125Graduate Certificate in Police Prosecution · 0 providers

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

70k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 4413.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

NSW19.5k
VIC15.9k
QLD14.2k
WA7.2k
SA5k
NT3k
ACT1.8k
TAS1.5k

Occupations near this one

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