Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in the U.S.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the U.S. earn a median of $76,210 a year ($36.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 670,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,120 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $79,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| 25th percentile | $59,290 | $28.50 |
| Median | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| 75th percentile | $97,600 | $46.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,120 | $55.35 |
| Average (mean) | $79,200 | $38.08 |
Half of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,350.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,175.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,931.15 |
| Weekly | $1,465.58 |
| Hourly | $36.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $118,880 | 65,940 |
| Washington | $102,080 | 9,160 |
| Illinois | $100,520 | 29,180 |
| Alaska | $99,130 | 1,260 |
| Colorado | $97,350 | 9,610 |
| Delaware | $92,970 | 1,800 |
| New York | $92,790 | 53,470 |
| New Jersey | $92,610 | 21,780 |
| District of Columbia | $88,650 | 4,720 |
| Oregon | $88,140 | 5,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,470 | 26,510 |
| Hawaii | $83,820 | 2,420 |
| Minnesota | $83,360 | 9,160 |
| Connecticut | $82,170 | 6,500 |
| Massachusetts | $78,940 | 17,040 |
| Arizona | $78,880 | 12,010 |
| Nevada | $78,140 | 5,720 |
| Wisconsin | $78,090 | 12,320 |
| Maryland | $77,970 | 9,720 |
| Utah | $77,310 | 5,500 |
| Rhode Island | $77,230 | 1,940 |
| Ohio | $77,020 | 23,430 |
| Texas | $75,900 | 63,100 |
| Nebraska | $74,620 | 3,490 |
| North Dakota | $74,500 | 1,630 |
| Florida | $74,470 | 43,630 |
| Iowa | $74,470 | 5,130 |
| Michigan | $73,730 | 16,750 |
| Indiana | $73,370 | 12,980 |
| New Hampshire | $71,640 | 2,460 |
| Montana | $70,050 | 2,160 |
| New Mexico | $69,180 | 4,580 |
| Vermont | $68,910 | 1,020 |
| Maine | $67,050 | 2,120 |
| Idaho | $66,990 | 2,810 |
| Wyoming | $66,140 | 1,310 |
| Virginia | $65,870 | 19,970 |
| Guam | $62,130 | 540 |
| South Dakota | $60,740 | 2,000 |
| Kentucky | $60,490 | 7,890 |
| Oklahoma | $59,700 | 9,660 |
| Missouri | $59,460 | 13,570 |
| North Carolina | $59,300 | 22,370 |
| Tennessee | $59,280 | 15,630 |
| Kansas | $59,230 | 6,130 |
| Georgia | $58,120 | 22,170 |
| South Carolina | $58,070 | 12,930 |
| West Virginia | $56,960 | 2,900 |
| Alabama | $51,270 | 11,710 |
| Louisiana | $48,380 | 12,400 |
| Arkansas | $47,670 | 5,710 |
| Mississippi | $46,140 | 8,070 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,510 | 11,640 |
Best-paying metro areas for police and sheriff's patrol officers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,140 | 2,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,000 | 7,990 |
| Carson City, NV | $131,210 | 110 |
| Vallejo, CA | $129,900 | 690 |
| Napa, CA | $127,310 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $125,910 | 590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $122,970 | 400 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $121,980 | 24,720 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $120,900 | 730 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $119,640 | 1,330 |
| Salinas, CA | $118,220 | 930 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $115,120 | 4,520 |
| Anchorage, AK | $115,020 | 570 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $111,460 | 5,420 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $110,400 | 4,950 |
Metro areas with the most police and sheriff's patrol officers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 54,270 | $105,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 24,720 | $121,980 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 22,680 | $107,810 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 16,430 | $92,910 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 16,250 | $74,570 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 14,710 | $79,840 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 14,630 | $84,000 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 13,160 | $89,580 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 11,440 | $78,180 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 11,310 | $60,910 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 10,770 | $45,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 7,990 | $132,000 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 7,860 | $78,450 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 7,860 | $85,050 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 6,010 | $101,870 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| Bailiff | $56,600 | $27.21 |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $74,060 | $35.60 |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $90,230 | $43.38 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $44.96 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $55,940 | $26.90 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the U.S. is $76,210 a year, or $36.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid police and sheriff's patrol officers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of police and sheriff's patrol officers in the U.S. earn at least $115,120 a year. The top 25% earn $97,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,510 a year, and a quarter of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn $59,290 or less.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in the U.S.?
About 670,520 police and sheriff's patrol officers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.