📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Very High Demand
Average
$79,200
per year
Median
$76,210
per year
Hourly
$38.08
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$50,890
25th Percentile — Junior$64,412
50th Percentile — Median$76,210
75th Percentile — Senior$94,837
90th Percentile — Top Earners$105,910
💡 The top 10% of Police and Sheriff Patrol Officerss earn $105,910 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $50,890, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$70.0k
2021
$71.8k
2022
$73.5k
2023
$75.4k
2024
$77.3k
2025
$79.2k
2026
📈 Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers salaries have grown 2.5% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $9,199.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $122,760 | +55.0% | Very High |
| District of Columbia | $120,384 | +52.0% | Very High |
| California | $112,464 | +42.0% | Very High |
| New York | $109,296 | +38.0% | Very High |
| Alaska | $104,544 | +32.0% | Very High |
| Massachusetts | $102,960 | +30.0% | Very High |
| New Jersey | $101,376 | +28.0% | Very High |
| Washington | $99,000 | +25.0% | Very High |
| Connecticut | $96,624 | +22.0% | Very High |
| Maryland | $91,080 | +15.0% | Very High |
| Rhode Island | $91,080 | +15.0% | Very High |
| New Hampshire | $90,288 | +14.0% | Very High |
| Oregon | $88,704 | +12.0% | Very High |
| Colorado | $87,120 | +10.0% | Very High |
| Virginia | $87,120 | +10.0% | Very High |
| Vermont | $85,536 | +8.0% | Very High |
| Delaware | $83,160 | +5.0% | Very High |
| Illinois | $83,160 | +5.0% | Very High |
| Maine | $80,784 | +2.0% | Very High |
| Nevada | $80,784 | +2.0% | Very High |
| Minnesota | $79,200 | +0.0% | Very High |
| Utah | $79,200 | +0.0% | Very High |
| Arizona | $78,408 | -1.0% | Very High |
| Pennsylvania | $78,408 | -1.0% | Very High |
| Florida | $77,616 | -2.0% | Very High |
| Montana | $75,240 | -5.0% | Very High |
| Texas | $75,240 | -5.0% | Very High |
| Georgia | $73,656 | -7.0% | Very High |
| Idaho | $73,656 | -7.0% | Very High |
| Wyoming | $73,656 | -7.0% | Very High |
| North Dakota | $72,864 | -8.0% | Very High |
| Wisconsin | $72,864 | -8.0% | Very High |
| North Carolina | $72,072 | -9.0% | Very High |
| Michigan | $71,280 | -10.0% | Very High |
| Louisiana | $69,696 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Nebraska | $69,696 | -12.0% | Very High |
| New Mexico | $69,696 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Ohio | $69,696 | -12.0% | Very High |
| South Carolina | $69,696 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Tennessee | $69,696 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Alabama | $68,904 | -13.0% | Very High |
| Missouri | $68,904 | -13.0% | Very High |
| South Dakota | $68,904 | -13.0% | Very High |
| Iowa | $68,112 | -14.0% | Very High |
| Indiana | $67,320 | -15.0% | Very High |
| Kansas | $67,320 | -15.0% | Very High |
| Oklahoma | $66,528 | -16.0% | Very High |
| Arkansas | $65,736 | -17.0% | Very High |
| Kentucky | $65,736 | -17.0% | Very High |
| Mississippi | $63,360 | -20.0% | Very High |
| West Virginia | $61,776 | -22.0% | Very High |
What Factors Affect Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Police and Sheriff Patrol Officerss typically earn $50,890–$64,412 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $94,837–$105,910 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers role currently has very high demand in the job market with a 2.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Public Safety sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
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$63,630/yr
19.7% vs this role
First-Line Supervisors of Police
$103,860/yr
+31.1% vs this role
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
$95,280/yr
+20.3% vs this role
Security Guards
$40,280/yr
49.1% vs this role
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting
$92,680/yr
+17.0% vs this role
Correctional Officers and Jailers
$56,680/yr
28.4% vs this role
Registered Nurses
$101,420/yr
+28.1% vs this role
Nurse Practitioners
$137,300/yr
+73.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers?The average salary for a Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers in the United States is $79,200 per year, with a median of $76,210.
-
What is the starting salary for a Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers?Entry-level Police and Sheriff Patrol Officerss typically earn between $50,890 and $64,412 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Police and Sheriff Patrol Officerss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Police and Sheriff Patrol Officerss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $79,200, a Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers earns approximately $38.08 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers a good career in 2026?Yes — the Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers role has very high demand with 2.5% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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