Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Washington, DC
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $84,000 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,753 take-home, or $5,313 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,650
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,208
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,218
- District of Columbia income tax$4,172
- Take-home pay$63,753
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,530 | $30.54 | $50,543 | $4,212 |
| 25th percentile | $71,910 | $34.57 | $56,191 | $4,683 |
| Median (50th) | $84,000 | $40.38 | $63,753 | $5,313 |
| 75th percentile | $98,540 | $47.38 | $72,745 | $6,062 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,240 | $57.33 | $85,548 | $7,129 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,000 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% 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 $63,753 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,551 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Washington, DC | $84,000 | $63,753 | $58,551 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $84,000 a year, or about $40.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $71,910 and $98,540.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $84,000 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $63,753 a year ($5,313 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,172 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,551 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #34 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 37% 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 Washington, DC
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $156,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $125,960
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $118,570
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $73,490
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $70,570
- Firefighter — $66,980
- Security Guard — $46,830
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $34,710