The median police officer in the U.S. earns $76,210 a year ($36.64 an hour). Half earn between $59,290 and $97,600. Among the 50 largest metro areas, pay is highest in San Jose, CA ($136,140) and lowest in Virginia Beach, VA ($59,690).
Median $76,210
10th: $47,51090th: $115,120
Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, May 2025.
Annual pay
U.S.
10th percentile
$47,510
25th percentile
$59,290
Median
$76,210
75th percentile
$97,600
90th percentile
$115,120
Average
$79,200
Jobs
670,520
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.