How Much Does a Police Chief Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$106,040
Police chiefs in the U.S. earn a median of $106,040 a year, or $50.98 an hour. Half of police chiefs earn more than $106,040 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $165,110.
Pay percentiles for police chiefs
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30.46 | $63,350 |
| 25th | $39.35 | $81,860 |
| 50th (median) | $50.98 | $106,040 |
| 75th | $63.76 | $132,620 |
| 90th | $79.38 | $165,110 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (SOC 33-1012). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for police chiefs
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $163,960 | $78.83 | +55% |
| New Jersey | $142,990 | $68.75 | +35% |
| Hawaii | $140,590 | $67.59 | +33% |
| Alaska | $137,320 | $66.02 | +29% |
| Washington | $136,280 | $65.52 | +29% |
| Illinois | $135,080 | $64.94 | +27% |
| District of Columbia | $134,760 | $64.79 | +27% |
| Nevada | $132,100 | $63.51 | +25% |
| Delaware | $131,080 | $63.02 | +24% |
| Colorado | $126,810 | $60.97 | +20% |
| United States | $106,040 | $50.98 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many police chiefs are there?
BLS counts about 154,610 police chiefs employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives”. The most jobs are in California (13,200), New York (12,750) and Florida (9,900).
The mean (average) annual wage is $112,190, higher than the median of $106,040.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $8,837
- Biweekly
- $4,078
- Weekly
- $2,039
- Daily (8 hours)
- $408
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do police chiefs make an hour?
The median hourly wage for police chiefs is $50.98. The middle 50% earn between $39.35 and $63.76 an hour.
Which state pays police chiefs the most?
California has the highest median wage for police chiefs at $163,960, +55% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for police chiefs?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of police chiefs earn less than $63,350 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.