Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Houston, TX
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $74,570 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,290 take-home, or $5,107 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,575
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,623
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,081
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$61,290
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% 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 Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,110 | $28.42 | $49,675 | $4,140 |
| 25th percentile | $61,240 | $29.44 | $51,386 | $4,282 |
| Median (50th) | $74,570 | $35.85 | $61,290 | $5,107 |
| 75th percentile | $82,480 | $39.65 | $66,855 | $5,571 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,800 | $45.10 | $74,818 | $6,235 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $74,570 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $61,290 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,142 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #28 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 |
| 28 | Houston, TX | $74,570 | $61,290 | $62,142 |
*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.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $92,910
- Austin, TX — $82,290
- San Antonio, TX — $73,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in Houston, TX?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $74,570 a year, or about $35.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,240 and $82,480.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $74,570 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $61,290 a year ($5,107 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,142 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #28 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 26% 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 Houston, TX
- Firefighter — $59,120
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $53,810
- Security Guard — $35,460