Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Richmond, VA
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $62,720 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,783 take-home, or $4,149 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,346
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,889
- Medicare (1.45%)$909
- Virginia income tax$2,792
- Take-home pay$49,783
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% 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 Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,270 | $25.61 | $42,734 | $3,561 |
| 25th percentile | $58,820 | $28.28 | $46,874 | $3,906 |
| Median (50th) | $62,720 | $30.15 | $49,783 | $4,149 |
| 75th percentile | $76,410 | $36.74 | $59,005 | $4,917 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,220 | $46.26 | $71,802 | $5,984 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,720 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $49,783 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,873 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Richmond, VA has 1.2× the national concentration of police and sheriff's patrol officer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #43 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 |
| 43 | Richmond, VA | $62,720 | $49,783 | $50,873 |
*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 Virginia
- Virginia Beach, VA — $59,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in Richmond, VA?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $62,720 a year, or about $30.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,820 and $76,410.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $62,720 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $49,783 a year ($4,149 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,792 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,873 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #43 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 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 Richmond, VA
- Security Guard — $36,960