As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer in the United States is $58,470. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $52,890 to $65,330, with most professionals earning between $47,810 and $71,576.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $65,330 | $5,444 | $1,256 | $31 |
| Average | $58,470 | $4,873 | $1,124 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,890 | $4,408 | $1,017 | $25 |
An entry-level Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer with less than 1 year of experience earns about $56,638. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $57,054. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $57,471. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $58,303, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $59,187.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer | $56,638 |
| Intermediate Level Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer | $57,054 |
| Senior Level Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer | $57,471 |
| Specialist Level Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer | $58,303 |
| Expert Level Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer | $59,187 |
| Entry Level | 3% |
| Mid Level | 2% |
| Senior Level | 2% |
| Top Level | 0% |
| Experienced | 1% |
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 Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $43,151 in 2023 to approximately $42,944 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer 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 Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $58,470 | 70.8% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $4,473 | 5.4% | ||
| 401K/403B | $2,748 | 3.3% | ||
| Disability | $468 | 0.6% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,056 | 7.3% | ||
| Pension | $3,216 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $7,196 | 8.7% | ||
| Total Compensation | $82,627 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 1.4% |
| High School | 28.1% |
| Associates | 22.4% |
| Bachelors | 40.8% |
| Masters | 5.9% |
| Doctorate | 1.4% |
What Am I Worth?
The #1 best-paying job is the Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer, with a salary range from $60,990 to $71,070. The mid-salary for this role is $65,270, making it a competitive option in the law enforcement field. Other high-paying jobs include obstetricians, psychiatrists, and emergency medicine physicians, but law enforcement offers a solid earning potential.
While police officers in California earned a median salary of $113,460 in 2023, the salary range for Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officers generally falls between $60,990 and $71,070, with a mid-salary of $65,270. This indicates that while some states offer higher salaries, the average pay for officers is significantly lower.
Detectives typically earn more than police officers. Based on the salary data for Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officers, the minimum salary is $60,990, the mid-salary is $65,270, and the maximum salary is $71,070. When promoted to Detective, officers generally see a significant pay increase, often exceeding these figures.
The best states to be a police officer, according to a WalletHub survey, are California, Illinois, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, with California leading the list. Officers can expect salaries ranging from a minimum of $60,990 to a maximum of $71,070, with a mid-range salary of $65,270, reflecting the competitive compensation in these states.
Salaries for police or sheriff's patrol officers typically range from a minimum of $60,990 to a maximum of $71,070, with a median salary of $65,270. While specific pay can vary based on location and experience, these figures suggest that police officers generally earn competitive salaries compared to sheriff's deputies.
The salary of a Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer in the US ranges from a minimum of $60,990 to a maximum of $71,070, with a median salary of $65,270. This reflects the compensation for law enforcement professionals, highlighting the financial aspects of this critical role in public safety.
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.
