Top 10 States With The Highest and Lowest Police Officer Salaries In The US

Rosemary January 30, 2024 | 09:40

Check out which states in the US pay the highest and lowest salaries for police.

Without fail, in polls across almost every demographic, the most essential part of a job for most people is the money - how much do police officers earn where I live?

And, while there are numerous factors that influence how much you may anticipate to earn, there is very solid data on average earnings for police officers by state in America, broken down by seniority level. So, while your location may differ slightly from the state average, these statistics provide a general idea of what to expect for your pay.

How many police officers in the US?

The United States presently has more than 900,000 sworn law enforcement officials, the highest number in history. Approximately 12% of those are female.

There have been 43,649 assaults against law enforcement officers (this includes federal, state, and local agencies) in 2021, resulting in 15,369 injuries.

Since 1791, when the first police death was recorded, almost 21,000 law enforcement officers have been killed while on duty. There are presently 21,541 names etched on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

3The 1920s were the worst decade in law enforcement history, with 2,480 policemen killed, averaging over 248 each year. The bloodiest year in American police history was 1930, when 310 officers were slain. Over the recent decade, the average number of police deaths each year has declined to 151.

What is average police officer wage in the United States?

The national average wage for police officers is $52,638.

The national hourly wage for police officers is $25.31.

What benefits might police officers receive in addition to their pay?

According to the BLS, several law enforcement agencies offer considerable perks to their officers. These include plans that allow for earlier retirement than in other professions. Standard perks include paid overtime and additional compensation for specialized qualifications such as higher education and multilingualism. The Justice Department's Public Safety Officers' payments Program provides death and education payments to the families of police officers slain in the line of duty.

Where do police funds originate from?

Local police agencies are funded through municipal and state taxes, as well as federal grant programs. State and local governments spent $135 billion on police in 2021, according to the most current available statistics from the US Census Bureau. Local governments accounted for $117 billion, or approximately 87% of total spending.

Top 10 states with the highest pay for police officers

1. California – $105,220

The average compensation for a police officer in California is $105,220. Police officer wages in California typically range from $51,000 to $95,000 per year. This is comparable to the typical police officer pay in the United States, which is $70,219. Police officers in California are paid an average hourly wage of $33.76.

2. Alaska – $87,870

The average income for a police officer in Alaska is $87,870. Police officer salaries in Alaska typically vary from $72,000 to $86,000 per year. This is comparable to the typical police officer pay in the United States, which is $79,324. Police officers in Alaska earn an average of $38.14 per hour.

3. New Jersey - $86,840

New Jersey's average police officer salary is $86,840. Police officer salaries in New Jersey normally range from $40,000 to $74,000 per year. This is comparable to the typical police officer pay in the United States, which is $54,992. The average hourly rate for police officers in New Jersey is $26.44.v

4. Washington -- $80,200

5. Hawaii - $78,720.

6. Illinois – $78,350

7. New York - $77,490

8. Colorado - $75,720

9.Delaware – $73,740

10. Nevada – $73,660

10 states with the lowest police officer salaries

1. Mississippi – $36,290

Mississippi police officers earn an average hourly wage of $14.78. Police officer hourly rates in Mississippi normally range between $11.06 and $19.23 per hour. This compared to the national average hourly rate for police officers, which is $14.78. The average police officer pay in Mississippi is $30,742.

2. Arkansas – $40,570

3. Louisiana - $42,470

A police officer in Louisiana earns an average of $15.90 per hour. In Louisiana, police officers' hourly pay normally vary from $11.54 to $21.15. This compared to the national average hourly rate for police officers, which is $15.90. The average police officer pay in Louisiana is $33,078.

4. South Carolina – $43,520

5. West Virginia – $44,450

6. Georgia – $44,700

7. Tennessee – $45,370

8. Alabama – $46,510

9. Kentucky – $46,720

10. North Carolina - $47,340

Conclusion

Police officer pay in Mississippi were the lowest, with an annual median of $36,000.00. Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, and West Virginia were among the states with the lowest earnings.

The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metropolitan area in California had the nation's highest median police officer salary of $132,930 per year.

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