The average salary for a police officer in the United States is around $43,042 per year.
Avg Salary
This is 25% below the national average. Updated in 2018.
Police officers earn an average yearly salary of $43,042. Wages typically start from $36,717 and go up to $66,003.
Police officer earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Police officer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $104,790 |
| Alaska | $84,830 |
| New Jersey | $85,330 |
| Washington | $78,870 |
| Illinois | $82,670 |
| District of Columbia | $71,570 |
| New York | $78,750 |
| Hawaii | $73,370 |
| Colorado | $74,550 |
| Connecticut | $71,350 |
| Nevada | $68,460 |
| Oregon | $71,670 |
| Delaware | $68,460 |
| Massachusetts | $68,030 |
| Minnesota | $70,220 |
| Maryland | $67,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,440 |
| Arizona | $65,220 |
| Wisconsin | $62,970 |
| Texas | $61,590 |
| Ohio | $60,980 |
| Rhode Island | $60,460 |
| Florida | $57,320 |
| Iowa | $58,500 |
| New Hampshire | $56,880 |
| Nebraska | $58,100 |
| North Dakota | $56,760 |
| Virginia | $53,570 |
| Michigan | $57,690 |
| Montana | $55,710 |
| Indiana | $54,570 |
| Wyoming | $54,290 |
| Utah | $52,550 |
| Idaho | $51,060 |
| Vermont | $52,380 |
| New Mexico | $52,070 |
| Maine | $49,860 |
| Missouri | $48,080 |
| South Dakota | $46,920 |
| North Carolina | $46,160 |
| Kansas | $46,170 |
| Oklahoma | $43,070 |
| Alabama | $44,560 |
| Kentucky | $44,820 |
| Tennessee | $44,270 |
| West Virginia | $43,420 |
| Georgia | $42,070 |
| South Carolina | $40,770 |
| Louisiana | $40,480 |
| Arkansas | $37,680 |
| Mississippi | $34,530 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,010 |
How do police officer salaries compare to similar careers?
Police officers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than underwriters but more than forensic science technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Underwriter salary | $48K |
| Bailiff salary | $46K |
| Insurance appraiser salary | $47K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $45K |
| Meter reader salary | $34K |
| Police officer salary | $43K |
| Legislator salary | $25K |
| Recruiter salary | $43K |
| Embalmer salary | $44K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $41K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)