Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $85,050 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,745 take-home, or $5,562 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,881
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,273
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,233
- Arizona income tax$1,918
- Take-home pay$66,745
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,550 | $31.03 | $52,641 | $4,387 |
| 25th percentile | $77,030 | $37.03 | $61,304 | $5,109 |
| Median (50th) | $85,050 | $40.89 | $66,745 | $5,562 |
| 75th percentile | $98,560 | $47.38 | $75,912 | $6,326 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,560 | $47.38 | $75,912 | $6,326 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $85,050 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $66,745 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,603 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 less concentrated in Phoenix, AZ than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #24 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 |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,050 | $66,745 | $64,603 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $85,050 a year, or about $40.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,030 and $98,560.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $85,050 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $66,745 a year ($5,562 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,918 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,603 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #24 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 28% 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 Phoenix, AZ
- Firefighter — $61,780
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $57,280
- Security Guard — $38,290
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $34,830