Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn a median of $76,210 a year ($36.64/hr) in the U.S. – from $45,510 in Puerto Rico to $118,880 in California. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$36.64/hr · $76,210 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$47,510$22.84/hr
75% earn more$59,290$28.50/hr
half earn more, half less$76,210$36.64/hr
25% earn more$97,600$46.93/hr
top 10% earn more$115,120$55.35/hr
pulled up by top earners$79,200$38.08/hr
How does my pay compare?
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Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for police and sheriff's patrol officers. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
65,940 jobs · $57.15/hr$118,880
9,160 jobs · $49.08/hr$102,080
29,180 jobs · $48.33/hr$100,520
1,260 jobs · $47.66/hr$99,130
9,610 jobs · $46.81/hr$97,350
1,800 jobs · $44.70/hr$92,970
53,470 jobs · $44.61/hr$92,790
21,780 jobs · $44.53/hr$92,610
4,720 jobs · $42.62/hr$88,650
5,030 jobs · $42.38/hr$88,140
26,510 jobs · $41.09/hr$85,470
2,420 jobs · $40.30/hr$83,820
9,160 jobs · $40.08/hr$83,360
6,500 jobs · $39.51/hr$82,170
17,040 jobs · $37.95/hr$78,940
12,010 jobs · $37.92/hr$78,880
5,720 jobs · $37.57/hr$78,140
12,320 jobs · $37.55/hr$78,090
9,720 jobs · $37.49/hr$77,970
5,500 jobs · $37.17/hr$77,310
1,940 jobs · $37.13/hr$77,230
23,430 jobs · $37.03/hr$77,020
63,100 jobs · $36.49/hr$75,900
3,490 jobs · $35.88/hr$74,620
1,630 jobs · $35.82/hr$74,500
43,630 jobs · $35.81/hr$74,470
5,130 jobs · $35.81/hr$74,470
16,750 jobs · $35.45/hr$73,730
12,980 jobs · $35.27/hr$73,370
2,460 jobs · $34.44/hr$71,640
2,160 jobs · $33.68/hr$70,050
4,580 jobs · $33.26/hr$69,180
1,020 jobs · $33.13/hr$68,910
2,120 jobs · $32.24/hr$67,050
2,810 jobs · $32.21/hr$66,990
1,310 jobs · $31.80/hr$66,140
19,970 jobs · $31.67/hr$65,870
2,000 jobs · $29.20/hr$60,740
7,890 jobs · $29.08/hr$60,490
9,660 jobs · $28.70/hr$59,700
13,570 jobs · $28.59/hr$59,460
22,370 jobs · $28.51/hr$59,300
15,630 jobs · $28.50/hr$59,280
6,130 jobs · $28.48/hr$59,230
22,170 jobs · $27.94/hr$58,120
12,930 jobs · $27.92/hr$58,070
2,900 jobs · $27.39/hr$56,960
11,710 jobs · $24.65/hr$51,270
12,400 jobs · $23.26/hr$48,380
5,710 jobs · $22.92/hr$47,670
8,070 jobs · $22.18/hr$46,140
11,640 jobs · $21.88/hr$45,510
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 33-3051. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make?
The median wage for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the U.S. was $36.64 an hour or $76,210 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $59,290 and $97,600 a year.
Which state pays police and sheriff's patrol officers the most?
California has the highest median wage for police and sheriff's patrol officers: $118,880 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $45,510. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers are there?
BLS estimates 670,520 police and sheriff's patrol officers were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.