Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Raleigh, NC
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $65,860 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,979 take-home, or $4,415 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,723
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,083
- Medicare (1.45%)$955
- North Carolina income tax$2,119
- Take-home pay$52,979
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% 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 Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,620 | $26.74 | $45,160 | $3,763 |
| 25th percentile | $57,840 | $27.81 | $46,855 | $3,905 |
| Median (50th) | $65,860 | $31.66 | $52,979 | $4,415 |
| 75th percentile | $76,150 | $36.61 | $59,872 | $4,989 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,870 | $38.88 | $63,004 | $5,250 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,860 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $52,979 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,974 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 less concentrated in Raleigh, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #39 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 |
| 39 | Raleigh, NC | $65,860 | $52,979 | $53,974 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $63,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in Raleigh, NC?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $65,860 a year, or about $31.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,840 and $76,150.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $65,860 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $52,979 a year ($4,415 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,119 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,974 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #39 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 36% 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 Raleigh, NC
- Firefighter — $45,640
- Security Guard — $34,680