How much do Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers make?
The median pay for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the United States is $76,210 per year — about $36.64 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $47,510, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $115,120.
That is $14,820 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary range by percentile
Half of all Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn between $59,290 and $97,600 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,510 | $22.84 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $59,290 | $28.50 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $76,210 | $36.64 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $97,600 | $46.92 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,120 | $55.35 |
Highest-paying states for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay at $118,880 a year, followed by Washington ($102,080) and Illinois ($100,520). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $46,140 — a gap of $72,740 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $118,880 | $57.15 | +56% |
| 2 | Washington | $102,080 | $49.08 | +34% |
| 3 | Illinois | $100,520 | $48.33 | +32% |
| 4 | Alaska | $99,130 | $47.66 | +30% |
| 5 | Colorado | $97,350 | $46.80 | +28% |
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 671,000 people work as Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $79,200 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other protective service roles with similar pay.