Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Boston, MA
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $78,180 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,141 take-home, or $5,012 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,370
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,847
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,134
- Massachusetts income tax$3,689
- Take-home pay$60,141
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. 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 Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,750 | $29.69 | $48,929 | $4,077 |
| 25th percentile | $72,270 | $34.75 | $56,278 | $4,690 |
| Median (50th) | $78,180 | $37.59 | $60,141 | $5,012 |
| 75th percentile | $98,820 | $47.51 | $73,629 | $6,136 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,240 | $51.56 | $79,131 | $6,594 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,180 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $60,141 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,549 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #37 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 |
| 37 | Boston, MA | $78,180 | $60,141 | $55,549 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $78,180 a year, or about $37.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $72,270 and $98,820.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $78,180 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $60,141 a year ($5,012 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,689 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,549 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #37 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 45% 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 Boston, MA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $108,190
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $96,740
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $89,060
- Firefighter — $73,990
- Security Guard — $44,990