Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $83,110 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,876 take-home, or $5,406 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,454
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,153
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,205
- Indiana income tax$2,422
- Take-home pay$64,876
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $1,659 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $63,217 ($5,268 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,280 | $28.98 | $48,866 | $4,072 |
| 25th percentile | $69,940 | $33.63 | $55,999 | $4,667 |
| Median (50th) | $83,110 | $39.96 | $64,876 | $5,406 |
| 75th percentile | $98,050 | $47.14 | $74,945 | $6,245 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,990 | $53.84 | $84,341 | $7,028 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,110 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $64,876 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,793 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 Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $83,110 | $64,876 | $67,793 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $83,110 a year, or about $39.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $69,940 and $98,050.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $83,110 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $64,876 a year ($5,406 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,422 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,793 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #17 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 23% 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 Indianapolis, IN
- Firefighter — $68,480
- Security Guard — $36,490