How Much Does a Police Officer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$76,210
Police officers in the U.S. earn a median of $76,210 a year, or $36.64 an hour. Half of police officers earn more than $76,210 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $115,120.
Pay percentiles for police officers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22.84 | $47,510 |
| 25th | $28.50 | $59,290 |
| 50th (median) | $36.64 | $76,210 |
| 75th | $46.93 | $97,600 |
| 90th | $55.35 | $115,120 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for police officers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $118,880 | $57.15 | +56% |
| Washington | $102,080 | $49.08 | +34% |
| Illinois | $100,520 | $48.33 | +32% |
| Alaska | $99,130 | $47.66 | +30% |
| Colorado | $97,350 | $46.81 | +28% |
| Delaware | $92,970 | $44.70 | +22% |
| New York | $92,790 | $44.61 | +22% |
| New Jersey | $92,610 | $44.53 | +22% |
| District of Columbia | $88,650 | $42.62 | +16% |
| Oregon | $88,140 | $42.38 | +16% |
| United States | $76,210 | $36.64 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many police officers are there?
BLS counts about 670,520 police officers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers”. The most jobs are in California (65,940), Texas (63,100) and New York (53,470).
The mean (average) annual wage is $79,200, higher than the median of $76,210.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,351
- Biweekly
- $2,931
- Weekly
- $1,466
- Daily (8 hours)
- $293
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do police officers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for police officers is $36.64. The middle 50% earn between $28.50 and $46.93 an hour.
Which state pays police officers the most?
California has the highest median wage for police officers at $118,880, +56% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for police officers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of police officers earn less than $47,510 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.