How much does a police officer make? Police Officer salary and hourly pay
A police officer in the US earns a median of $76,210 a year, about $36.64 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,510 and the top 10% earn over $115,120. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, California, has a median of $118,880.
Police Officer pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a police officer make an hour?
The median police officer earns $36.64 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $22.84 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55.35 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| Lower 25% | $59,290 | $28.50 |
| Median (typical) | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Upper 25% | $97,600 | $46.93 |
| Top 10% | $115,120 | $55.35 |
Police Officer salary by state
Median annual pay for police officers in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $51,270 | $24.65 |
| Alaska | $99,130 | $47.66 |
| Arizona | $78,880 | $37.92 |
| Arkansas | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| California | $118,880 | $57.15 |
| Colorado | $97,350 | $46.80 |
| Connecticut | $82,170 | $39.50 |
| Delaware | $92,970 | $44.70 |
| District of Columbia | $88,650 | $42.62 |
| Florida | $74,470 | $35.80 |
| Georgia | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| Hawaii | $83,820 | $40.30 |
| Idaho | $66,990 | $32.21 |
| Illinois | $100,520 | $48.33 |
| Indiana | $73,370 | $35.27 |
| Iowa | $74,470 | $35.80 |
| Kansas | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| Kentucky | $60,490 | $29.08 |
| Louisiana | $48,380 | $23.26 |
| Maine | $67,050 | $32.24 |
| Maryland | $77,970 | $37.49 |
| Massachusetts | $78,940 | $37.95 |
| Michigan | $73,730 | $35.45 |
| Minnesota | $83,360 | $40.08 |
| Mississippi | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Missouri | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| Montana | $70,050 | $33.68 |
| Nebraska | $74,620 | $35.88 |
| Nevada | $78,140 | $37.57 |
| New Hampshire | $71,640 | $34.44 |
| New Jersey | $92,610 | $44.52 |
| New Mexico | $69,180 | $33.26 |
| New York | $92,790 | $44.61 |
| North Carolina | $59,300 | $28.51 |
| North Dakota | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Ohio | $77,020 | $37.03 |
| Oklahoma | $59,700 | $28.70 |
| Oregon | $88,140 | $42.38 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,470 | $41.09 |
| Rhode Island | $77,230 | $37.13 |
| South Carolina | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| South Dakota | $60,740 | $29.20 |
| Tennessee | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Texas | $75,900 | $36.49 |
| Utah | $77,310 | $37.17 |
| Vermont | $68,910 | $33.13 |
| Virginia | $65,870 | $31.67 |
| Washington | $102,080 | $49.08 |
| West Virginia | $56,960 | $27.38 |
| Wisconsin | $78,090 | $37.54 |
| Wyoming | $66,140 | $31.80 |
Highest-paying states for police officers
- California: $118,880 median
- Washington: $102,080 median
- Illinois: $100,520 median
- Alaska: $99,130 median
- Colorado: $97,350 median
The lowest medians are in Mississippi ($46,140), Arkansas ($47,670), Louisiana ($48,380), Alabama ($51,270), West Virginia ($56,960). The most police officer jobs are in California (65,940 jobs), Texas (63,100 jobs), New York (53,470 jobs), Florida (43,630 jobs), Illinois (29,180 jobs).
How much does a police officer make a month?
At the median salary of $76,210, a police officer earns about $6,351 a month, $2,931 every two weeks or $1,466 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced police officer pay
New police officers typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,510 a year and the lowest 25% under $59,290. The top 25% earn over $97,600 and the top 10% over $115,120. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Police Officer salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Police officer | $76,210 |
| Pilot | $232,140 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Real estate agent | $52,830 |
| Flight attendant | $63,580 |
| Air traffic controller | $148,080 |
Common questions
How much does a police officer make?
The US median is $76,210 a year ($36.64 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a police officer make an hour?
The median is about $36.64 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $22.84 and the top 10% about $55.35 an hour.
Which state pays police officers the most?
California has the highest median at $118,880, followed by Washington ($102,080) and Illinois ($100,520).
How much does a police officer make a month?
At the US median of $76,210 a year, about $6,351 a month or $2,931 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level police officer make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,510 a year and the lowest 25% under $59,290, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of police officers make?
The top 10% earn over $115,120 a year; the top 25% earn over $97,600.
How much does a police officer make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $118,880 in California, $75,900 in Texas, $74,470 in Florida, $92,790 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 33-3051, “Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.