Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Charlotte, NC
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $63,190 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,941 take-home, or $4,245 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,403
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,918
- Medicare (1.45%)$916
- North Carolina income tax$2,013
- Take-home pay$50,941
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,850 | $23.97 | $40,754 | $3,396 |
| 25th percentile | $59,300 | $28.51 | $47,970 | $3,998 |
| Median (50th) | $63,190 | $30.38 | $50,941 | $4,245 |
| 75th percentile | $78,930 | $37.95 | $61,717 | $5,143 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,430 | $45.40 | $72,002 | $6,000 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,190 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $50,941 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,328 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer jobs are about as common in Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #41 of 46 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $136,140 | $94,116 | $85,233 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $100,890 | $77,814 | $81,507 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $115,120 | $89,817 | $80,819 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $132,000 | $91,726 | $79,338 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $107,810 | $79,483 | $76,724 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,980 | $85,939 | $75,673 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $111,460 | $79,657 | $74,676 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $101,970 | $76,788 | $72,590 |
| 41 | Charlotte, NC | $63,190 | $50,941 | $52,328 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 46 metros →
About the job: police and sheriff's patrol officers
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.5% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $65,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in Charlotte, NC?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $63,190 a year, or about $30.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,300 and $78,930.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $63,190 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $50,941 a year ($4,245 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,013 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,328 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #41 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median police and sheriff's patrol officer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- Firefighter — $38,700
- Security Guard — $35,010