As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Chief of Police in the United States is $117,200. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $105,200 to $135,200, with most professionals earning between $94,275 and $151,588.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $135,200 | $11,267 | $2,600 | $65 |
| Average | $117,200 | $9,767 | $2,254 | $56 |
| 25th Percentile | $105,200 | $8,767 | $2,023 | $51 |
An entry-level Chief of Police with less than 1 year of experience earns about $110,931. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $111,827. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $112,722. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $114,513, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $116,842.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Chief of Police | $110,931 |
| Intermediate Level Chief of Police | $111,827 |
| Senior Level Chief of Police | $112,722 |
| Specialist Level Chief of Police | $114,513 |
| Expert Level Chief of Police | $116,842 |
| Entry Level | 5% |
| Mid Level | 5% |
| Senior Level | 4% |
| Top Level | 2% |
| Experienced | 0% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Chief of Police compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $145,104 in 2023 to approximately $141,655 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Chief of Police salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Chief of Police information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Chief of Police job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Chief of Police and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $117,200 | 73.3% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $8,966 | 5.6% | ||
| 401K/403B | $5,743 | 3.6% | ||
| Disability | $1,875 | 1.2% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,371 | 4.0% | ||
| Pension | $4,922 | 3.1% | ||
| Time Off | $14,875 | 9.3% | ||
| Total Compensation | $159,952 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 2.4% |
| High School | 20.5% |
| Associates | 12.0% |
| Bachelors | 33.7% |
| Masters | 27.1% |
| Doctorate | 4.2% |
What Am I Worth?
Sheriffs typically earn more than state troopers. The national average salary for a state trooper is around $63,782 annually, while the average salary for a Chief of Police ranges from $114,400 to $128,500, with a midpoint of $121,100. This indicates that Chiefs of Police generally earn significantly more than state troopers.
The highest-paid Chief of Police can earn a maximum salary of $128,500, with a minimum salary of $114,400 and a mid-range salary of $121,100. This reflects the competitive compensation for police leadership roles, particularly in states like California, where salaries tend to be higher than the national average.
The estimated total pay for a Chief of Police in the Los Angeles area ranges from $114,400 to $128,500 per year, with a mid-salary of $121,100. These figures reflect the salary range based on collected data and represent the compensation for this position in the region.
The salary for the Chief of Police ranges from $114,400 to $128,500, with a midpoint of $121,100. This figure does not include additional benefits or potential bonuses.
The salary for the Chief of Police ranges from $114,400 to $128,500, with a midpoint of $121,100. This figure does not account for additional benefits or potential bonuses.
As of January 16, 2025, the salary for a Chief of Police ranges from $114,400 to $128,500 annually. This translates to a monthly salary between approximately $9,533 and $10,708. The mid-salary is around $121,100, equating to about $10,092 per month.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
