The average salary for a police officer in the United States is around $57,511 per year.
Avg Salary
Police officers earn an average yearly salary of $57,511.
Wages typically start from $35,964 and go up to $91,967.
7% below national average Updated in 2023
Police officer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level police officer earnings begin at:
$44.21 per hour
$91,967 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level police officer earnings begin at:
$35.40 per hour
$73,630 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level police officer earnings begin at:
$27.65 per hour
$57,511 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level police officer earnings begin at:
$21.60 per hour
$44,921 per year
10th percentile
Starting level police officer earnings begin at:
$17.29 per hour
$35,964 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Police officer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $98,070 |
| New Jersey | $97,860 |
| Illinois | $83,080 |
| Alaska | $81,640 |
| Oregon | $80,860 |
| Delaware | $80,140 |
| District of Columbia | $79,310 |
| New York | $79,080 |
| Colorado | $78,560 |
| Hawaii | $78,540 |
| Connecticut | $77,640 |
| Minnesota | $77,610 |
| Maryland | $76,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,880 |
| Massachusetts | $76,340 |
| Nevada | $76,010 |
| Wisconsin | $71,590 |
| Arizona | $66,020 |
| Rhode Island | $65,440 |
| Ohio | $64,610 |
| Michigan | $64,510 |
| Iowa | $63,970 |
| Texas | $63,800 |
| North Dakota | $63,200 |
| New Hampshire | $62,130 |
| Florida | $61,970 |
| Indiana | $61,800 |
| Nebraska | $61,590 |
| Montana | $61,190 |
| Utah | $60,390 |
| Idaho | $60,040 |
| Maine | $60,040 |
| Vermont | $60,040 |
| Wyoming | $60,040 |
| New Mexico | $59,580 |
| Virginia | $58,480 |
| Missouri | $51,990 |
| South Dakota | $50,660 |
| Kansas | $50,480 |
| Oklahoma | $50,480 |
| Georgia | $48,730 |
| North Carolina | $48,390 |
| South Carolina | $48,380 |
| Alabama | $48,290 |
| Tennessee | $47,850 |
| West Virginia | $47,850 |
| Kentucky | $47,310 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,500 |
| Louisiana | $43,220 |
| Arkansas | $39,890 |
| Mississippi | $37,390 |
| California | $100,330 |
How do police officer salaries compare to similar careers?
Police officers earn 18% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than special agents but more than arbitrators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Special agent salary | $96K |
| Customs inspector salary | $88K |
| Compliance manager salary | $83K |
| Coroner salary | $76K |
| Fire inspector salary | $62K |
| Police officer salary | $58K |
| Detective salary | $55K |
| Private detective salary | $58K |
| Bailiff salary | $53K |
| Arbitrator salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)