Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Police and sheriff's patrol officers (SOC 33-3051) employed 670,520 people in May 2025. The median pay is $76,210 a year ($36.64 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,510 and the highest-paid 10% more than $115,120. BLS projects its employment to change by +3.5% between 2025 and 2035 (about 51,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: California ($118,880), Washington ($102,080), Illinois ($100,520). Most jobs: California (65,940), Texas (63,100), New York (53,470).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| 25th percentile | $59,290 | $28.50 |
| Median | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Mean | $79,200 | $38.08 |
| 75th percentile | $97,600 | $46.92 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $115,120 | $55.35 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 693,200 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 717,300 |
| Change in jobs | 24,200 |
| Percent change | +3.5% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 51,500 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 11,710 | 1.29 | $51,270 | $37,480 | $77,220 | -33% | 25% |
| Alaska | 1,260 | 0.90 | $99,130 | $60,670 | $137,340 | +30% | 17% |
| Arizona | 12,010 | 0.86 | $78,880 | $60,990 | $98,560 | +4% | 25% |
| Arkansas | 5,710 | 1.02 | $47,670 | $35,210 | $70,190 | -37% | 25% |
| California | 65,940 | 0.84 | $118,880 | $76,300 | $153,190 | +56% | 21% |
| Colorado | 9,610 | 0.78 | $97,350 | $65,340 | $109,300 | +28% | 22% |
| Connecticut | 6,500 | 0.89 | $82,170 | $63,310 | $102,660 | +8% | 23% |
| Delaware | 1,800 | 0.86 | $92,970 | $62,470 | $130,870 | +22% | 20% |
| District of Columbia | 4,720 | 1.56 | $88,650 | $66,420 | $119,660 | +16% | 26% |
| Florida | 43,630 | 1.02 | $74,470 | $51,330 | $98,190 | -2% | 29% |
| Georgia | 22,170 | 1.05 | $58,120 | $43,690 | $76,250 | -24% | 31% |
| Hawaii | 2,420 | 0.90 | $83,820 | $77,480 | $108,110 | +10% | 28% |
| Idaho | 2,810 | 0.76 | $66,990 | $48,840 | $97,980 | -12% | 25% |
| Illinois | 29,180 | 1.11 | $100,520 | $58,420 | $119,560 | +32% | 16% |
| Indiana | 12,980 | 0.94 | $73,370 | $52,170 | $100,010 | -4% | 18% |
| Iowa | 5,130 | 0.76 | $74,470 | $59,360 | $101,520 | -2% | 16% |
| Kansas | 6,130 | 0.99 | $59,230 | $42,040 | $90,530 | -22% | 22% |
| Kentucky | 7,890 | 0.91 | $60,490 | $38,780 | $77,970 | -21% | 20% |
| Louisiana | 12,400 | 1.49 | $48,380 | $36,470 | $69,140 | -37% | 26% |
| Maine | 2,120 | 0.77 | $67,050 | $55,930 | $91,270 | -12% | 22% |
| Maryland | 9,720 | 0.82 | $77,970 | $58,580 | $113,700 | +2% | 26% |
| Massachusetts | 17,040 | 1.09 | $78,940 | $61,160 | $108,150 | +4% | 28% |
| Michigan | 16,750 | 0.88 | $73,730 | $47,780 | $89,220 | -3% | 19% |
| Minnesota | 9,160 | 0.72 | $83,360 | $60,670 | $106,160 | +9% | 19% |
| Mississippi | 8,070 | 1.61 | $46,140 | $33,230 | $61,550 | -39% | 26% |
| Missouri | 13,570 | 1.07 | $59,460 | $43,210 | $90,770 | -22% | 22% |
| Montana | 2,160 | 0.98 | $70,050 | $55,330 | $84,150 | -8% | 20% |
| Nebraska | 3,490 | 0.79 | $74,620 | $54,680 | $95,210 | -2% | 18% |
| Nevada | 5,720 | 0.85 | $78,140 | $62,250 | $102,810 | +3% | 26% |
| New Hampshire | 2,460 | 0.83 | $71,640 | $57,930 | $89,940 | -6% | 26% |
| New Jersey | 21,780 | 1.18 | $92,610 | $57,740 | $134,260 | +22% | 23% |
| New Mexico | 4,580 | 1.22 | $69,180 | $48,400 | $85,740 | -9% | 19% |
| New York | 53,470 | 1.28 | $92,790 | $53,000 | $118,250 | +22% | 21% |
| North Carolina | 22,370 | 1.05 | $59,300 | $46,040 | $80,240 | -22% | 27% |
| North Dakota | 1,630 | 0.88 | $74,500 | $58,620 | $91,440 | -2% | 16% |
| Ohio | 23,430 | 0.98 | $77,020 | $51,110 | $103,210 | +1% | 17% |
| Oklahoma | 9,660 | 1.31 | $59,700 | $36,480 | $94,940 | -22% | 21% |
| Oregon | 5,030 | 0.59 | $88,140 | $66,380 | $109,350 | +16% | 22% |
| Pennsylvania | 26,510 | 1.01 | $85,470 | $48,680 | $109,780 | +12% | 18% |
| Rhode Island | 1,940 | 0.90 | $77,230 | $59,020 | $91,760 | +1% | 22% |
| South Carolina | 12,930 | 1.30 | $58,070 | $45,060 | $78,760 | -24% | 26% |
| South Dakota | 2,000 | 1.01 | $60,740 | $47,540 | $91,900 | -20% | 20% |
| Tennessee | 15,630 | 1.11 | $59,280 | $43,520 | $79,480 | -22% | 26% |
| Texas | 63,100 | 1.04 | $75,900 | $51,240 | $98,350 | -0% | 23% |
| Utah | 5,500 | 0.73 | $77,310 | $60,290 | $99,920 | +1% | 25% |
| Vermont | 1,020 | 0.78 | $68,910 | $53,950 | $95,530 | -10% | 23% |
| Virginia | 19,970 | 1.13 | $65,870 | $50,000 | $96,820 | -14% | 30% |
| Washington | 9,160 | 0.60 | $102,080 | $79,120 | $132,200 | +34% | 21% |
| West Virginia | 2,900 | 0.96 | $56,960 | $41,950 | $69,980 | -25% | 19% |
| Wisconsin | 12,320 | 0.97 | $78,090 | $58,530 | $94,450 | +2% | 18% |
| Wyoming | 1,310 | 1.08 | $66,140 | $57,130 | $76,840 | -13% | 18% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,590 | $136,140 | $105,050 | $174,030 | 0.53 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 7,990 | $132,000 | $95,390 | $156,690 | 0.78 |
| Vallejo, CA | 690 | $129,900 | $97,600 | $163,550 | 1.11 |
| Napa, CA | 300 | $127,310 | $86,600 | $159,420 | 0.90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 590 | $125,910 | $81,320 | $149,560 | 0.67 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 400 | $122,970 | $79,830 | $152,340 | 0.93 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 24,720 | $121,980 | $78,870 | $127,880 | 0.91 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 730 | $120,900 | $79,180 | $131,500 | 0.84 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,330 | $119,640 | $78,360 | $128,580 | 0.95 |
| Salinas, CA | 930 | $118,220 | $78,390 | $142,280 | 1.15 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,520 | $115,120 | $94,290 | $136,110 | 0.50 |
| Anchorage, AK | 570 | $115,020 | $80,240 | $132,370 | 0.75 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 5,420 | $111,460 | $79,150 | $159,420 | 1.16 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,950 | $110,400 | $78,010 | $151,960 | 0.75 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 22,680 | $107,810 | $63,450 | $123,130 | 1.17 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 54,270 | $105,540 | $56,390 | $131,690 | 1.33 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 340 | $104,570 | $89,040 | $116,090 | 0.61 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 4,990 | $101,970 | $76,640 | $113,630 | 0.72 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 6,010 | $101,870 | $70,800 | $146,450 | 0.81 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 460 | $101,860 | $83,860 | $160,620 | 0.88 |
| Bellingham, WA | 310 | $101,810 | $84,830 | $118,810 | 0.79 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 350 | $101,440 | $67,370 | $115,320 | 0.86 |
| Columbus, OH | 5,190 | $100,890 | $60,450 | $111,420 | 1.09 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,560 | $100,770 | $65,280 | $159,420 | 0.76 |
| Boulder, CO | 370 | $100,060 | $78,430 | $104,690 | 0.45 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 930 | $99,900 | $77,980 | $130,850 | 0.75 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 380 | $99,810 | $84,500 | $121,570 | 0.68 |
| Yakima, WA | 370 | $98,340 | $73,030 | $103,160 | 0.89 |
| Modesto, CA | 960 | $98,230 | $78,230 | $123,690 | 1.14 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,290 | $97,200 | $79,640 | $114,060 | 0.44 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 5,570 | $97,190 | $63,340 | $109,230 | 0.66 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 600 | $96,740 | $75,660 | $102,630 | 0.83 |
| Greeley, CO | 460 | $96,620 | $75,270 | $101,800 | 0.90 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 600 | $95,660 | $68,540 | $104,920 | 0.55 |
| Lincoln, NE | 510 | $93,680 | $62,660 | $95,030 | 0.65 |
| Rochester, NY | 1,800 | $92,920 | $57,140 | $101,430 | 0.85 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 16,430 | $92,910 | $62,700 | $104,100 | 0.94 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 360 | $92,780 | $74,510 | $104,460 | 0.52 |
| Reno, NV | 1,030 | $92,130 | $59,660 | $125,400 | 0.86 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,240 | $91,580 | $63,000 | $97,620 | 0.91 |
| Visalia, CA | 540 | $90,910 | $62,200 | $155,530 | 0.73 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 13,160 | $89,580 | $55,040 | $121,200 | 1.05 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 1,360 | $87,930 | $52,970 | $104,360 | 1.17 |
| Reading, PA | 690 | $87,060 | $58,670 | $114,300 | 0.92 |
| Lancaster, PA | 760 | $86,800 | $55,540 | $105,660 | 0.70 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 7,860 | $85,050 | $64,550 | $98,560 | 0.77 |
| Boise City, ID | 950 | $84,940 | $58,990 | $102,950 | 0.56 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 1,610 | $84,530 | $53,130 | $105,660 | 0.99 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 1,480 | $84,470 | $45,480 | $110,270 | 1.02 |
| Binghamton, NY | 420 | $84,320 | $59,600 | $96,270 | 1.00 |
| Salem, OR | 510 | $84,320 | $62,600 | $109,350 | 0.62 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,520 | $84,000 | $62,110 | $99,210 | 0.87 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 14,630 | $84,000 | $63,530 | $119,240 | 1.08 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,630 | $83,820 | $77,940 | $108,110 | 0.85 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 5,080 | $83,190 | $50,470 | $107,630 | 1.06 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 4,430 | $83,110 | $60,280 | $111,990 | 0.93 |
| Springfield, MA | 1,570 | $83,050 | $52,000 | $126,880 | 1.81 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 640 | $82,830 | $69,640 | $104,580 | 0.93 |
| Springfield, IL | 420 | $82,740 | $49,550 | $98,380 | 0.96 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 2,110 | $82,660 | $65,430 | $102,350 | 0.82 |
The median is $76,210 a year ($36.64 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,510 and the highest-paid tenth over $115,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
670,520 in May 2025, and BLS projects +3.5% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
California, with a median of $118,880 (among states with published figures).