Police Officers Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,780
- 25th Percentile — Junior$47,940
- 50th Percentile — Median$60,490
- 75th Percentile — Senior$68,990
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$77,970
Half of Police Officers in Kentucky earn more than $60,490. The top 10% make $77,970 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,780.
Police Officers in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 45th of 51 states for Police Officers pay, at $59,840 per year (24.4% below the U.S. average of $79,200).
- 7,890 people work as Police Officers in Kentucky — 1.2% of all U.S. Police Officers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.91: Police Officers jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,780; the top 10% earn over $77,970.
- Hourly equivalent: $28.77 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $112,980.
- Among public safety jobs in Kentucky, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($88,030).
Police Officers Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Police Officers here earn $59,840 on average, placing the state 45th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $59,840 is roughly equivalent to $72,096 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Tennessee ($61,830), Kansas ($61,450), North Carolina ($61,390) are the closest alternatives for Police Officers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $88,030/yr Kentucky +47.1% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $86,900/yr Kentucky +45.2% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $67,280/yr Kentucky +12.4% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $51,130/yr Kentucky 14.6% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $44,870/yr Kentucky 25.0% vs this role
- Firefighters $42,100/yr Kentucky 29.6% vs this role
- Security Guards $38,540/yr Kentucky 35.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Police Officers salary in Kentucky?
The average Police Officers salary in Kentucky is $59,840 per year (median $60,490), which is 24.4% below the national average of $79,200.
How does Kentucky rank for Police Officers pay?
Kentucky ranks 45th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($112,980/yr).
How much do entry-level Police Officers make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Police Officers in Kentucky earn about $38,780 per year and the 25th percentile is $47,940.
How much do Police Officers make per hour in Kentucky?
About $28.77 per hour, based on the $59,840 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Police Officers work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 7,890 Police Officers jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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