Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $59,690 a year — 22% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,523 take-home, or $3,960 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,983
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,701
- Medicare (1.45%)$866
- Virginia income tax$2,618
- Take-home pay$47,523
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. 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 Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,050 | $25.02 | $41,823 | $3,485 |
| 25th percentile | $57,530 | $27.66 | $45,911 | $3,826 |
| Median (50th) | $59,690 | $28.70 | $47,523 | $3,960 |
| 75th percentile | $75,960 | $36.52 | $58,714 | $4,893 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,030 | $45.21 | $70,387 | $5,866 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,690 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $47,523 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,522 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Virginia Beach, VA has 1.3× 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
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #46 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 |
| 46 | Virginia Beach, VA | $59,690 | $47,523 | $48,522 |
*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
- Richmond, VA — $62,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $59,690 a year, or about $28.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,530 and $75,960.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $59,690 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $47,523 a year ($3,960 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,618 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 22% below the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,522 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #46 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 38% 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 Virginia Beach, VA
- Firefighter — $56,940
- Security Guard — $37,230