The average salary for a sheriff in the United States is around $76,210 per year.
Avg Salary
Sheriffs earn an average yearly salary of $76,210.
Wages typically start from $47,510 and go up to $115,120.
15% above national average Updated in 2025
Sheriff earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$55.35 per hour
$115,120 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$46.93 per hour
$97,600 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$36.64 per hour
$76,210 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$28.50 per hour
$59,290 per year
10th percentile
Starting level sheriff earnings begin at:
$22.84 per hour
$47,510 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Sheriff salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $99,130 |
| Colorado | $97,350 |
| Delaware | $92,970 |
| New York | $92,790 |
| New Jersey | $92,610 |
| District of Columbia | $88,650 |
| Oregon | $88,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,470 |
| Hawaii | $83,820 |
| Minnesota | $83,360 |
| Connecticut | $82,170 |
| Massachusetts | $78,940 |
| Arizona | $78,880 |
| Nevada | $78,140 |
| Wisconsin | $78,090 |
| Maryland | $77,970 |
| Utah | $77,310 |
| Rhode Island | $77,230 |
| Ohio | $77,020 |
| Texas | $75,900 |
| Nebraska | $74,620 |
| North Dakota | $74,500 |
| Florida | $74,470 |
| Iowa | $74,470 |
| Michigan | $73,730 |
| Indiana | $73,370 |
| New Hampshire | $71,640 |
| Montana | $70,050 |
| New Mexico | $69,180 |
| Vermont | $68,910 |
| Maine | $67,050 |
| Idaho | $66,990 |
| Wyoming | $66,140 |
| Virginia | $65,870 |
| South Dakota | $60,740 |
| Kentucky | $60,490 |
| Oklahoma | $59,700 |
| Missouri | $59,460 |
| North Carolina | $59,300 |
| Tennessee | $59,280 |
| Kansas | $59,230 |
| Georgia | $58,120 |
| South Carolina | $58,070 |
| West Virginia | $56,960 |
| Alabama | $51,270 |
| Louisiana | $48,380 |
| Arkansas | $47,670 |
| Mississippi | $46,140 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,500 |
| California | $118,880 |
| Washington | $102,080 |
| Illinois | $100,520 |
How do sheriff salaries compare to similar careers?
Sheriffs earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than special agents but more than probation officers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Special agent salary | $94K |
| Transit police officer salary | $90K |
| Arbitrator salary | $76K |
| Coroner salary | $81K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $72K |
| Police officer salary | $76K |
| Sheriff salary | $76K |
| Court reporter salary | $72K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $74K |
| Probation officer salary | $66K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)