In the US, the average police officer earns $72,280 a year — but, depending on the state, salaries can be many thousands higher or lower.
Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, USAFacts ranked the median annual wage for police and sheriff's patrol officers in each state and metro area, where data was available. Figures are adjusted for cost of living and are accurate as of May 2023.
The highest-paying state for police officers was California, where the median salary stood at $100,781 after cost of living was taken into account.
Washington ($99,510), Illinois ($98,430), New Jersey ($91,850) and Alaska ($90,060) rounded off the top five states for high police pay.
When it comes to the states where police earned the least, Mississippi led, with an average salary of just $41,080. Annual wages were similarly low in Arkansas ($44,300) and Louisiana ($47,800).
On the city level, the California Bay Area paid police officers the most. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area topped the ranking, with an cost-of-living adjusted salary of $128,771, followed by Napa, with $115,049.
Via USAFacts.
