Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn a median $76,210 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations
U.S. median
$76,210
$36.64 per hour
Range
$47,510 – $115,120
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
670,520
across the U.S.
▼0.1%
Pay trend: The median for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the U.S. fell from $76,290 (May 2024) to $76,210 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 2.5%.
What police and sheriff's patrol officers do
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)
- Openings per year
- 51,500
Employment of police and sheriff's patrol officers is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 51,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$62,444
per year · effective tax rate 18.1%
$5,204Monthly
$2,602Twice a month
$2,402Every 2 weeks
$30.02Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,936
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,725
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,105
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$62,444
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,510 | $22.84 | $40,354 |
| 25th percentile | $59,290 | $28.50 | $49,820 |
| Median (50th) | $76,210 | $36.64 | $62,444 |
| 75th percentile | $97,600 | $46.92 | $77,492 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,120 | $55.35 | $89,817 |
Best cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $136,140 | $94,116 | $85,233 | 2,590 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $100,890 | $77,814 | $81,507 | 5,190 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $115,120 | $89,817 | $80,819 | 4,520 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $132,000 | $91,726 | $79,338 | 7,990 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $107,810 | $79,483 | $76,724 | 22,680 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,980 | $85,939 | $75,673 | 24,720 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $111,460 | $79,657 | $74,676 | 5,420 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $101,970 | $76,788 | $72,590 | 4,990 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $92,910 | $74,192 | $71,968 | 16,430 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $110,400 | $79,024 | $70,628 | 4,950 |
| 11 | Riverside, CA | $101,870 | $73,927 | $69,453 | 6,010 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $105,540 | $77,891 | $69,197 | 54,270 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $97,190 | $72,118 | $68,800 | 5,570 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $83,190 | $64,800 | $68,448 | 5,080 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $82,290 | $66,721 | $68,037 | 4,540 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $80,280 | $63,882 | $68,015 | 5,200 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $83,110 | $64,876 | $67,793 | 4,430 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $89,580 | $69,099 | $67,379 | 13,160 |
| 19 | Memphis, TN | $75,410 | $61,881 | $67,131 | 3,630 |
| 20 | Cincinnati, OH | $80,410 | $63,970 | $67,075 | 3,900 |
| 21 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,090 | $63,610 | $65,620 | 3,660 |
| 22 | Oklahoma City, OK | $75,270 | $58,941 | $65,194 | 2,970 |
| 23 | Jacksonville, FL | $78,810 | $64,273 | $64,606 | 2,800 |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,050 | $66,745 | $64,603 | 7,860 |
| 25 | San Antonio, TX | $73,860 | $60,791 | $64,182 | 5,130 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $136,140
- San Francisco, CA — $132,000
- Los Angeles, CA — $121,980
- Seattle, WA — $115,120
- Sacramento, CA — $111,460
- San Diego, CA — $110,400
- Chicago, IL — $107,810
- New York, NY — $105,540
- Denver, CO — $101,970
- Riverside, CA — $101,870
- Columbus, OH — $100,890
- Minneapolis, MN — $97,190
- Dallas, TX — $92,910
- Philadelphia, PA — $89,580
- Phoenix, AZ — $85,050
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $118,880 | +3.0% | $84,090 | $76,300 – $153,190 | 65,940 |
| Washington | $102,080 | −0.5% | $80,643 | $79,120 – $132,200 | 9,160 |
| Illinois | $100,520 | −1.0% | $74,715 | $58,420 – $119,560 | 29,180 |
| Alaska | $99,130 | −1.2% | $78,568 | $60,670 – $137,340 | 1,260 |
| Colorado | $97,350 | +1.3% | $73,741 | $65,340 – $109,300 | 9,610 |
| Delaware | $92,970 | +11.7% | $69,439 | $62,470 – $130,870 | 1,800 |
| New York | $92,790 | −0.3% | $69,673 | $53,000 – $118,250 | 53,470 |
| New Jersey | $92,610 | +4.0% | $70,272 | $57,740 – $134,260 | 21,780 |
| District of Columbia | $88,650 | +0.4% | $66,629 | $66,420 – $119,660 | 4,720 |
| Oregon | $88,140 | +0.0% | $63,954 | $66,380 – $109,350 | 5,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,470 | −1.0% | $66,334 | $48,680 – $109,780 | 26,510 |
| Hawaii | $83,820 | −6.2% | $62,957 | $77,480 – $108,110 | 2,420 |
| Minnesota | $83,360 | +0.1% | $63,329 | $60,670 – $106,160 | 9,160 |
| Connecticut | $82,170 | −0.8% | $63,692 | $63,310 – $102,660 | 6,500 |
| Massachusetts | $78,940 | +0.4% | $60,637 | $61,160 – $108,150 | 17,040 |
| Arizona | $78,880 | −0.6% | $62,559 | $60,990 – $98,560 | 12,010 |
| Nevada | $78,140 | −0.7% | $63,801 | $62,250 – $102,810 | 5,720 |
| Wisconsin | $78,090 | −1.1% | $61,008 | $58,530 – $94,450 | 12,320 |
| Maryland | $77,970 | +0.7% | $60,342 | $58,580 – $113,700 | 9,720 |
| Utah | $77,310 | +0.1% | $60,705 | $60,290 – $99,920 | 5,500 |
| Rhode Island | $77,230 | −0.1% | $60,882 | $59,020 – $91,760 | 1,940 |
| Ohio | $77,020 | −0.0% | $61,678 | $51,110 – $103,210 | 23,430 |
| Texas | $75,900 | −0.6% | $62,226 | $51,240 – $98,350 | 63,100 |
| Nebraska | $74,620 | +3.4% | $58,810 | $54,680 – $95,210 | 3,490 |
| North Dakota | $74,500 | −1.4% | $61,047 | $58,620 – $91,440 | 1,630 |
| Florida | $74,470 | −2.3% | $61,220 | $51,330 – $98,190 | 43,630 |
| Iowa | $74,470 | +0.8% | $59,042 | $59,360 – $101,520 | 5,130 |
| Michigan | $73,730 | −0.9% | $57,816 | $47,780 – $89,220 | 16,750 |
| Indiana | $73,370 | +2.6% | $58,311 | $52,170 – $100,010 | 12,980 |
| New Hampshire | $71,640 | +5.9% | $59,229 | $57,930 – $89,940 | 2,460 |
| Montana | $70,050 | +0.2% | $55,513 | $55,330 – $84,150 | 2,160 |
| New Mexico | $69,180 | +9.2% | $55,412 | $48,400 – $85,740 | 4,580 |
| Vermont | $68,910 | +8.2% | $55,220 | $53,950 – $95,530 | 1,020 |
| Maine | $67,050 | +2.6% | $52,655 | $55,930 – $91,270 | 2,120 |
| Idaho | $66,990 | +1.3% | $53,515 | $48,840 – $97,980 | 2,810 |
| Wyoming | $66,140 | +1.5% | $55,323 | $57,130 – $76,840 | 1,310 |
| Virginia | $65,870 | +1.2% | $52,133 | $50,000 – $96,820 | 19,970 |
| South Dakota | $60,740 | +0.7% | $50,985 | $47,540 – $91,900 | 2,000 |
| Kentucky | $60,490 | +0.4% | $48,784 | $38,780 – $77,970 | 7,890 |
| Oklahoma | $59,700 | +4.1% | $48,008 | $36,480 – $94,940 | 9,660 |
| Missouri | $59,460 | −2.1% | $48,099 | $43,210 – $90,770 | 13,570 |
| North Carolina | $59,300 | +2.2% | $47,970 | $46,040 – $80,240 | 22,370 |
| Tennessee | $59,280 | −0.2% | $49,811 | $43,520 – $79,480 | 15,630 |
| Kansas | $59,230 | +4.6% | $47,266 | $42,040 – $90,530 | 6,130 |
| Georgia | $58,120 | +3.1% | $46,486 | $43,690 – $76,250 | 22,170 |
| South Carolina | $58,070 | +0.1% | $46,512 | $45,060 – $78,760 | 12,930 |
| West Virginia | $56,960 | +4.4% | $46,118 | $41,950 – $69,980 | 2,900 |
| Alabama | $51,270 | −4.8% | $41,077 | $37,480 – $77,220 | 11,710 |
| Louisiana | $48,380 | −4.3% | $39,988 | $36,470 – $69,140 | 12,400 |
| Arkansas | $47,670 | −0.9% | $38,836 | $35,210 – $70,190 | 5,710 |
| Mississippi | $46,140 | +1.2% | $38,140 | $33,230 – $61,550 | 8,070 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transit and Railroad Police | $90,230 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.2% |
| Fish and Game Warden | $74,060 | Bachelor's degree | -5.7% |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.4% |
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.2% |
| Bailiff | $56,600 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.9% |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $46,730 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.1% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $76,400 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.9% |
| Fire Inspector and Investigator | $75,920 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +4.2% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers | $77,970 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.5% |
| Transportation Security Screener | $66,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | -4.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make?
The national median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers is $76,210 a year ($36.64 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,510 and the top 10% earn over $115,120. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays police and sheriff's patrol officers the most?
California has the highest median pay at $118,880. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers are there in the U.S.?
About 670,520 people work as police and sheriff's patrol officers nationwide.
All 46 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Birmingham, AL
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbia, SC
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC