Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $80,410 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,970 take-home, or $5,331 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,860
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,985
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,166
- Ohio income tax$1,429
- Take-home pay$63,970
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cincinnati? City residents also pay Cincinnati’s city income tax — about $1,447 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $62,522 ($5,210 a month). Choose “Cincinnati” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro spans Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana. 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 Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,070 | $27.44 | $47,249 | $3,937 |
| 25th percentile | $64,900 | $31.20 | $53,325 | $4,444 |
| Median (50th) | $80,410 | $38.66 | $63,970 | $5,331 |
| 75th percentile | $95,300 | $45.82 | $74,035 | $6,170 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,630 | $47.42 | $76,286 | $6,357 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,410 buys in Cincinnati, OH
Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 4.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $63,970 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,075 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 Cincinnati, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Cincinnati, OH | $80,410 | $63,970 | $67,075 |
*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 Ohio
- Columbus, OH — $100,890
- Cleveland, OH — $80,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $80,410 a year, or about $38.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,900 and $95,300.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $80,410 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $63,970 a year ($5,331 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,429 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,075 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #20 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Cincinnati, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cincinnati, OH is $1,043 a month ($1,342 for two bedrooms) — 20% 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 Cincinnati, OH
- Firefighter — $58,570
- Security Guard — $36,110