Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Atlanta, GA
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $60,910 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,583 take-home, or $4,049 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,129
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,776
- Medicare (1.45%)$883
- Georgia income tax$2,538
- Take-home pay$48,583
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% 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 Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,700 | $23.41 | $39,406 | $3,284 |
| 25th percentile | $55,060 | $26.47 | $44,186 | $3,682 |
| Median (50th) | $60,910 | $29.28 | $48,583 | $4,049 |
| 75th percentile | $70,800 | $34.04 | $55,586 | $4,632 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,280 | $38.12 | $61,112 | $5,093 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,910 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $48,583 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,555 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 Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #45 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 |
| 45 | Atlanta, GA | $60,910 | $48,583 | $48,555 |
*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 Atlanta, GA?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $60,910 a year, or about $29.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $55,060 and $70,800.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $60,910 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $48,583 a year ($4,049 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,538 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,555 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #45 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 41% 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 Atlanta, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $81,860
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $69,900
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $49,380
- Firefighter — $47,300
- Security Guard — $35,150