Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $82,090 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,610 take-home, or $5,301 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,230
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,090
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,190
- Wisconsin income tax$2,970
- Take-home pay$63,610
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% 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 Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,070 | $31.28 | $52,382 | $4,365 |
| 25th percentile | $78,510 | $37.75 | $61,281 | $5,107 |
| Median (50th) | $82,090 | $39.47 | $63,610 | $5,301 |
| 75th percentile | $92,710 | $44.57 | $70,518 | $5,877 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,710 | $45.05 | $71,169 | $5,931 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,090 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $63,610 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,620 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,090 | $63,610 | $65,620 |
*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 Milwaukee, WI?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $82,090 a year, or about $39.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,510 and $92,710.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $82,090 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $63,610 a year ($5,301 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,970 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,620 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #21 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 21% 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 Milwaukee, WI
- Security Guard — $37,870