Police and sheriff's patrol officers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Mean (average) | $79,200 | $38.08 |
| 90th percentile | $115,120 | $55.35 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $51,270 | $37,480 | $77,220 | 11,710 | 1.29 |
| Alaska | $99,130 | $60,670 | $137,340 | 1,260 | 0.9 |
| Arizona | $78,880 | $60,990 | $98,560 | 12,010 | 0.86 |
| Arkansas | $47,670 | $35,210 | $70,190 | 5,710 | 1.02 |
| California | $118,880 | $76,300 | $153,190 | 65,940 | 0.84 |
| Colorado | $97,350 | $65,340 | $109,300 | 9,610 | 0.78 |
| Connecticut | $82,170 | $63,310 | $102,660 | 6,500 | 0.89 |
| Delaware | $92,970 | $62,470 | $130,870 | 1,800 | 0.86 |
| District of Columbia | $88,650 | $66,420 | $119,660 | 4,720 | 1.56 |
| Florida | $74,470 | $51,330 | $98,190 | 43,630 | 1.02 |
| Georgia | $58,120 | $43,690 | $76,250 | 22,170 | 1.05 |
| Guam | $62,130 | $36,590 | $98,030 | 540 | 1.87 |
| Hawaii | $83,820 | $77,480 | $108,110 | 2,420 | 0.9 |
| Idaho | $66,990 | $48,840 | $97,980 | 2,810 | 0.76 |
| Illinois | $100,520 | $58,420 | $119,560 | 29,180 | 1.11 |
| Indiana | $73,370 | $52,170 | $100,010 | 12,980 | 0.94 |
| Iowa | $74,470 | $59,360 | $101,520 | 5,130 | 0.76 |
| Kansas | $59,230 | $42,040 | $90,530 | 6,130 | 0.99 |
| Kentucky | $60,490 | $38,780 | $77,970 | 7,890 | 0.91 |
| Louisiana | $48,380 | $36,470 | $69,140 | 12,400 | 1.49 |
| Maine | $67,050 | $55,930 | $91,270 | 2,120 | 0.77 |
| Maryland | $77,970 | $58,580 | $113,700 | 9,720 | 0.82 |
| Massachusetts | $78,940 | $61,160 | $108,150 | 17,040 | 1.09 |
| Michigan | $73,730 | $47,780 | $89,220 | 16,750 | 0.88 |
| Minnesota | $83,360 | $60,670 | $106,160 | 9,160 | 0.72 |
| Mississippi | $46,140 | $33,230 | $61,550 | 8,070 | 1.61 |
| Missouri | $59,460 | $43,210 | $90,770 | 13,570 | 1.07 |
| Montana | $70,050 | $55,330 | $84,150 | 2,160 | 0.98 |
| Nebraska | $74,620 | $54,680 | $95,210 | 3,490 | 0.79 |
| Nevada | $78,140 | $62,250 | $102,810 | 5,720 | 0.85 |
| New Hampshire | $71,640 | $57,930 | $89,940 | 2,460 | 0.83 |
| New Jersey | $92,610 | $57,740 | $134,260 | 21,780 | 1.18 |
| New Mexico | $69,180 | $48,400 | $85,740 | 4,580 | 1.22 |
| New York | $92,790 | $53,000 | $118,250 | 53,470 | 1.28 |
| North Carolina | $59,300 | $46,040 | $80,240 | 22,370 | 1.05 |
| North Dakota | $74,500 | $58,620 | $91,440 | 1,630 | 0.88 |
| Ohio | $77,020 | $51,110 | $103,210 | 23,430 | 0.98 |
| Oklahoma | $59,700 | $36,480 | $94,940 | 9,660 | 1.31 |
| Oregon | $88,140 | $66,380 | $109,350 | 5,030 | 0.59 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,470 | $48,680 | $109,780 | 26,510 | 1.01 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,510 | $30,500 | $50,240 | 11,640 | 2.88 |
| Rhode Island | $77,230 | $59,020 | $91,760 | 1,940 | 0.9 |
| South Carolina | $58,070 | $45,060 | $78,760 | 12,930 | 1.3 |
| South Dakota | $60,740 | $47,540 | $91,900 | 2,000 | 1.01 |
| Tennessee | $59,280 | $43,520 | $79,480 | 15,630 | 1.11 |
| Texas | $75,900 | $51,240 | $98,350 | 63,100 | 1.04 |
| Utah | $77,310 | $60,290 | $99,920 | 5,500 | 0.73 |
| Vermont | $68,910 | $53,950 | $95,530 | 1,020 | 0.78 |
| Virginia | $65,870 | $50,000 | $96,820 | 19,970 | 1.13 |
| Washington | $102,080 | $79,120 | $132,200 | 9,160 | 0.6 |
| West Virginia | $56,960 | $41,950 | $69,980 | 2,900 | 0.96 |
| Wisconsin | $78,090 | $58,530 | $94,450 | 12,320 | 0.97 |
| Wyoming | $66,140 | $57,130 | $76,840 | 1,310 | 1.08 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 51,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services CIP 03.0208
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General CIP 43.0100
- Criminal Justice/Police Science CIP 43.0107
- Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing CIP 43.0114
- Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management CIP 43.0115
- Critical Incident Response/Special Police Operations CIP 43.0119
- Protective Services Operations CIP 43.0120
- Maritime Law Enforcement CIP 43.0122
- Criminalistics and Criminal Science CIP 43.0402
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
- Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
- Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
- Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
- Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
- Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
- Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators, issue citations, and make arrests.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computer aided composite drawing software
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Crime mapping software
- Database software
- DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
- ESRI ArcView
- Email software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Service Orientation, Persuasion, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Deputy Sheriff, K-9 Handler (Canine Handler), Law Enforcement Officer, Patrol Officer, Peace Officer, Police Officer, Police Patrol Officer, Public Safety Officer (PSO), SRO (School Resource Officer), State Trooper.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make?
The national median annual wage for police and sheriff's patrol officers was $76,210 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $47,510 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $115,120. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do police and sheriff's patrol officers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is police and sheriff's patrol officers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of police and sheriff's patrol officers to change +3.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 51,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay police and sheriff's patrol officers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($118,880), Washington ($102,080), Illinois ($100,520). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.