SOC 33-3051 · BLS occupation: Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officer · May 2025
Police Officer Salary
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the US earn a median of $76,210 a year ($38.08 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officer pay climbed from $67,600 in 2019 to $79,200 in 2025, a +17.2% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$76,210
Half of all Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+17.2% since 2019 · -0.2% YoY
Hourly
$38.08
Job growth 2025-35
+3.5%
US workers
670,520
BLS series
Annual median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers is $47,510 – $115,120.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$47,510
25th
$59,290
Median
$76,210
75th
$97,600
90th
$115,120
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $47,510 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $59,290 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $76,210 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $97,600 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $115,120 |
Geography
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officer pay by state
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn the most in California ($118,880, +56% against the national median) and the least in Mississippi ($46,140). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$76,210
Highest-paying states for police & sheriff's patrol officers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $118,880 | +56% | 65,940 |
| Washington | $102,080 | +34% | 9,160 |
| Illinois | $100,520 | +32% | 29,180 |
| Alaska | $99,130 | +30% | 1,260 |
| Colorado | $97,350 | +28% | 9,610 |
| Delaware | $92,970 | +22% | 1,800 |
| New York | $92,790 | +22% | 53,470 |
| New Jersey | $92,610 | +22% | 21,780 |
| D.C. | $88,650 | +16% | 4,720 |
| Oregon | $88,140 | +16% | 5,030 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| D.C. | $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 |
| Iowa | $74,470 | 5,130 |
| Florida | $74,470 | 43,630 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Police officers protect lives and property, enforce laws, respond to emergencies, and conduct investigations. Entry requires a high school diploma (some agencies require college credit), academy training, and successful completion of physical and psychological exams.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $47,510 – $115,120. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are California, Washington and Illinois. Pay in California runs 2.6 times the level in Mississippi, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as high school diploma or equivalent, and projects about 51,500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officer salary in the US?
How much does a Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officer make an hour?
How much do Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers the most?
Is the average Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officer salary higher than the median?
Is Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officer a growing career?
Open positions
Open Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officer roles hiring now
Browse current Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officer listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 33-3051. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.