Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Chicago, IL
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $107,810 a year — 41% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,483 take-home, or $6,624 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,888
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,684
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,563
- Illinois income tax$5,192
- Take-home pay$79,483
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,450 | $30.50 | $50,166 | $4,181 |
| 25th percentile | $86,630 | $41.65 | $65,631 | $5,469 |
| Median (50th) | $107,810 | $51.83 | $79,483 | $6,624 |
| 75th percentile | $107,810 | $51.83 | $79,483 | $6,624 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,130 | $59.20 | $89,475 | $7,456 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $107,810 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $79,483 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,724 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 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 Chicago, IL?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $107,810 a year, or about $51.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $86,630 and $107,810.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $107,810 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $79,483 a year ($6,624 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,192 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 41% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,724 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 23% 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 Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $135,080
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $126,200
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $84,550
- Firefighter — $82,820
- Security Guard — $39,990
- School Bus Monitor — $33,890
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $33,750