Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Seattle, WA
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $115,120 a year — 51% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,817 take-home, or $7,485 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,496
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,137
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,669
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$89,817
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% 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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $94,290 | $45.33 | $75,163 | $6,264 |
| 25th percentile | $101,820 | $48.95 | $80,460 | $6,705 |
| Median (50th) | $115,120 | $55.35 | $89,817 | $7,485 |
| 75th percentile | $126,950 | $61.03 | $98,036 | $8,170 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,110 | $65.44 | $104,297 | $8,691 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $115,120 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $89,817 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,819 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 Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.50), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $115,120 a year, or about $55.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,820 and $126,950.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $115,120 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $89,817 a year ($7,485 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 51% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,819 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 27% 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 Seattle, WA
- Firefighter — $101,090
- Security Guard — $47,490
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $42,170
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $39,240