diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index bb308199..2340a517 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useState, useImperativeHandle, forwardRef, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { Card, CardContent } from '@/components/ui/card';
+import { Tabs, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tabs';
 import { useToast } from '@/hooks/use-toast';
 import { useUserRole } from '@/hooks/useUserRole';
 import { useAuth } from '@/hooks/useAuth';
@@ -19,7 +20,8 @@ import { AutoRefreshIndicator } from './AutoRefreshIndicator';
 import { NewItemsAlert } from './NewItemsAlert';
 import { EmptyQueueState } from './EmptyQueueState';
 import { QueuePagination } from './QueuePagination';
-import type { ModerationQueueRef } from '@/types/moderation';
+import type { ModerationQueueRef, QueueTab } from '@/types/moderation';
+import { AlertTriangle, Clock, Archive } from 'lucide-react';
 
 export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   const isMobile = useIsMobile();
@@ -87,6 +89,28 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   
   return (
     <div className="space-y-4">
+      {/* Queue Tabs */}
+      <Tabs 
+        value={queueManager.filters.activeTab} 
+        onValueChange={(value) => queueManager.filters.setActiveTab(value as QueueTab)}
+        className="w-full"
+      >
+        <TabsList className="grid w-full grid-cols-3">
+          <TabsTrigger value="mainQueue" className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <Clock className="w-4 h-4" />
+            Main Queue
+          </TabsTrigger>
+          <TabsTrigger value="escalated" className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <AlertTriangle className="w-4 h-4" />
+            Escalated
+          </TabsTrigger>
+          <TabsTrigger value="archive" className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <Archive className="w-4 h-4" />
+            Archive
+          </TabsTrigger>
+        </TabsList>
+      </Tabs>
+      
       {/* Queue Statistics & Lock Status */}
       {queueManager.queue.queueStats && (
         <Card className="bg-gradient-to-r from-primary/5 to-primary/10 border-primary/20">
diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
index dc4fed1d..4b4d6d66 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
@@ -238,9 +238,8 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
           ascending: sort.config.direction === 'asc'
         });
         
-        // Apply sorting: escalated first (desc), then user's chosen field
+        // Apply sorting by user's chosen field only
         submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery
-          .order("escalated", { ascending: false })
           .order(sortField, { ascending: sort.config.direction === 'asc' });
 
         // Apply tab-based status filtering
@@ -249,6 +248,20 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
         const entityFilter = filters.debouncedEntityFilter;
 
         if (tab === "mainQueue") {
+          // Main queue: non-escalated pending items
+          submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.eq("escalated", false);
+          
+          if (statusFilter === "all") {
+            submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.in("status", ["pending", "flagged", "partially_approved"]);
+          } else if (statusFilter === "pending") {
+            submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.in("status", ["pending", "partially_approved"]);
+          } else {
+            submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.eq("status", statusFilter);
+          }
+        } else if (tab === "escalated") {
+          // Escalated queue: only escalated items
+          submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.eq("escalated", true);
+          
           if (statusFilter === "all") {
             submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.in("status", ["pending", "flagged", "partially_approved"]);
           } else if (statusFilter === "pending") {
@@ -257,6 +270,7 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
             submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.eq("status", statusFilter);
           }
         } else {
+          // Archive: completed items (non-escalated and escalated)
           if (statusFilter === "all") {
             submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.in("status", ["approved", "rejected"]);
           } else {
@@ -286,6 +300,18 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
 
         // Apply the exact same filters as the main query
         if (tab === "mainQueue") {
+          countQuery = countQuery.eq("escalated", false);
+          
+          if (statusFilter === "all") {
+            countQuery = countQuery.in("status", ["pending", "flagged", "partially_approved"]);
+          } else if (statusFilter === "pending") {
+            countQuery = countQuery.in("status", ["pending", "partially_approved"]);
+          } else {
+            countQuery = countQuery.eq("status", statusFilter);
+          }
+        } else if (tab === "escalated") {
+          countQuery = countQuery.eq("escalated", true);
+          
           if (statusFilter === "all") {
             countQuery = countQuery.in("status", ["pending", "flagged", "partially_approved"]);
           } else if (statusFilter === "pending") {
diff --git a/src/types/moderation.ts b/src/types/moderation.ts
index ae93bd55..17edbf32 100644
--- a/src/types/moderation.ts
+++ b/src/types/moderation.ts
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export type StatusFilter = 'all' | 'pending' | 'partially_approved' | 'flagged'
 /**
  * Available tabs in the moderation interface
  */
-export type QueueTab = 'mainQueue' | 'archive';
+export type QueueTab = 'mainQueue' | 'escalated' | 'archive';
 
 /**
  * Fields that can be used for sorting the moderation queue