Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) earn a median $76,210 a year ($36.64 an hour) in the United States, with 670,520 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What police and sheriff's patrol officers do
Police and sheriff's patrol officers maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state or federal laws and ordinances. The SOC lists a combination of duties: patrolling a specific area, directing traffic, issuing traffic summonses, investigating accidents, apprehending and arresting suspects, and serving legal processes of the courts. The code includes police officers working at educational institutions. Officers identify, pursue and arrest suspects, respond to emergencies, enforce motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promote good community relations. They monitor, note and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards and unusual or illegal activity in the patrol area, and review the facts of incidents to decide whether a criminal act or violation was involved. They render first aid to accident survivors, record facts in reports that document incidents, and testify in court in traffic and criminal cases. Education is varied: about 40 percent of respondents report a high school diploma, 21 percent a postsecondary certificate and 17 percent an associate degree. Also-listed names include campus police officer, border patrol agent, canine deputy, alcohol law enforcement agent and animal cop.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation (40 percent).
Also called: Accident Prevention Squad Police Officer, Alcohol Law Enforcement Agent (ALE Agent), Animal Cop, Border Guard, Border Patrol Agent.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.84 | $28.50 | $36.64 | $46.93 | $55.35 | $38.08 | 670,520 |
| Annual | $47,510 | $59,290 | $76,210 | $97,600 | $115,120 | $79,200 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where police and sheriff's patrol officers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $36.69 | $46.77 | $57.15 | $60.95 | $73.65 | $54.32 | 65,940 | 3.62 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $76,300 | $97,280 | $118,880 | $126,780 | $153,190 | $112,980 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $38.04 | $44.68 | $49.08 | $56.96 | $63.56 | $50.07 | 9,160 | 2.58 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $79,120 | $92,930 | $102,080 | $118,480 | $132,200 | $104,140 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $28.09 | $36.77 | $48.33 | $51.83 | $57.48 | $44.45 | 29,180 | 4.79 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $58,420 | $76,480 | $100,520 | $107,810 | $119,560 | $92,450 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $29.17 | $37.89 | $47.66 | $60.81 | $66.03 | $48.93 | 1,260 | 3.88 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $60,670 | $78,810 | $99,130 | $126,480 | $137,340 | $101,770 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $31.41 | $36.85 | $46.81 | $49.34 | $52.55 | $43.54 | 9,610 | 3.35 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $65,340 | $76,640 | $97,350 | $102,620 | $109,300 | $90,550 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $36.69 | $46.77 | $57.15 | $60.95 | $73.65 | $54.32 | 65,940 | 3.62 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $76,300 | $97,280 | $118,880 | $126,780 | $153,190 | $112,980 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $24.64 | $29.44 | $36.49 | $45.09 | $47.29 | $36.62 | 63,100 | 4.48 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $51,240 | $61,240 | $75,900 | $93,800 | $98,350 | $76,160 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $25.48 | $27.49 | $44.61 | $51.48 | $56.85 | $41.88 | 53,470 | 5.52 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $53,000 | $57,180 | $92,790 | $107,080 | $118,250 | $87,110 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $24.68 | $29.10 | $35.81 | $44.93 | $47.21 | $36.21 | 43,630 | 4.39 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $51,330 | $60,520 | $74,470 | $93,460 | $98,190 | $75,320 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $28.09 | $36.77 | $48.33 | $51.83 | $57.48 | $44.45 | 29,180 | 4.79 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $58,420 | $76,480 | $100,520 | $107,810 | $119,560 | $92,450 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $50.51 | $60.23 | $65.45 | $79.56 | $83.67 | $69.00 | 2,590 | 2.28 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $105,050 | $125,270 | $136,140 | $165,490 | $174,030 | $143,520 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $45.86 | $60.08 | $63.46 | $68.18 | $75.33 | $62.59 | 7,990 | 3.36 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $95,390 | $124,970 | $132,000 | $141,810 | $156,690 | $130,190 | ||||
| Carson City, NV | Hourly | $40.27 | $48.36 | $63.08 | $63.08 | $63.08 | $54.94 | 110 | 3.38 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $83,760 | $100,590 | $131,210 | $131,210 | $131,210 | $114,270 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $46.92 | $51.02 | $62.45 | $73.34 | $78.63 | $61.13 | 690 | 4.77 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $97,600 | $106,110 | $129,900 | $152,540 | $163,550 | $127,150 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $41.64 | $51.43 | $61.21 | $65.01 | $76.65 | $59.79 | 300 | 3.90 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $86,600 | $106,980 | $127,310 | $135,220 | $159,420 | $124,360 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $27.11 | $27.49 | $50.74 | $51.78 | $63.31 | $44.68 | 54,270 | 5.72 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $56,390 | $57,180 | $105,540 | $107,690 | $131,690 | $92,940 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $37.92 | $47.20 | $58.64 | $60.61 | $61.48 | $54.00 | 24,720 | 3.94 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $78,870 | $98,180 | $121,980 | $126,080 | $127,880 | $112,320 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $30.50 | $41.65 | $51.83 | $51.83 | $59.20 | $47.71 | 22,680 | 5.03 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $63,450 | $86,630 | $107,810 | $107,810 | $123,130 | $99,230 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $30.15 | $36.66 | $44.67 | $46.93 | $50.05 | $41.88 | 16,430 | 4.06 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $62,700 | $76,250 | $92,910 | $97,620 | $104,100 | $87,110 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $28.42 | $29.44 | $35.85 | $39.65 | $45.09 | $35.70 | 16,250 | 4.94 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $59,110 | $61,240 | $74,570 | $82,480 | $93,800 | $74,260 | ||||
Top industries employing police and sheriff's patrol officers
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 85.6% of police and sheriff's patrol officers nationally (573,740 jobs) at a median $75,920 a year ($36.50 an hour), followed by State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (8.5%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (2.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 573,740 | 85.6% | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 57,190 | 8.5% | $88,400 | $42.50 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 13,760 | 2.1% | $63,280 | $30.42 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 11,540 | 1.7% | $75,130 | $36.12 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 6,650 | 1.0% | $61,510 | $29.57 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (670,520). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $64,610 for police and sheriff's patrol officers in May 2021 and $76,210 in May 2025, with employment of 665,380 and 670,520.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $64,610 | $31.06 | 665,380 |
| May 2022 | $65,790 | $31.63 | 655,890 |
| May 2023 | $72,280 | $34.75 | 646,310 |
| May 2024 | $76,290 | $36.68 | 666,990 |
| May 2025 | $76,210 | $36.64 | 670,520 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $57.15 | $118,880 | $76,300 | $153,190 | 65,940 | 3.62 | 0.84 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $49.08 | $102,080 | $79,120 | $132,200 | 9,160 | 2.58 | 0.60 |
| 3 | Illinois profile | $48.33 | $100,520 | $58,420 | $119,560 | 29,180 | 4.79 | 1.11 |
| 4 | Alaska profile | $47.66 | $99,130 | $60,670 | $137,340 | 1,260 | 3.88 | 0.90 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $46.81 | $97,350 | $65,340 | $109,300 | 9,610 | 3.35 | 0.78 |
| 6 | Delaware profile | $44.70 | $92,970 | $62,470 | $130,870 | 1,800 | 3.71 | 0.86 |
| 7 | New York profile | $44.61 | $92,790 | $53,000 | $118,250 | 53,470 | 5.52 | 1.28 |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $44.53 | $92,610 | $57,740 | $134,260 | 21,780 | 5.08 | 1.18 |
| 9 | District of Columbia profile | $42.62 | $88,650 | $66,420 | $119,660 | 4,720 | 6.73 | 1.56 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $42.38 | $88,140 | $66,380 | $109,350 | 5,030 | 2.56 | 0.59 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania profile | $41.09 | $85,470 | $48,680 | $109,780 | 26,510 | 4.37 | 1.01 |
| 12 | Hawaii profile | $40.30 | $83,820 | $77,480 | $108,110 | 2,420 | 3.86 | 0.90 |
| 13 | Minnesota profile | $40.08 | $83,360 | $60,670 | $106,160 | 9,160 | 3.11 | 0.72 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $39.51 | $82,170 | $63,310 | $102,660 | 6,500 | 3.83 | 0.89 |
| 15 | Massachusetts profile | $37.95 | $78,940 | $61,160 | $108,150 | 17,040 | 4.68 | 1.09 |
| 16 | Arizona profile | $37.92 | $78,880 | $60,990 | $98,560 | 12,010 | 3.71 | 0.86 |
| 17 | Nevada profile | $37.57 | $78,140 | $62,250 | $102,810 | 5,720 | 3.69 | 0.85 |
| 18 | Wisconsin profile | $37.55 | $78,090 | $58,530 | $94,450 | 12,320 | 4.19 | 0.97 |
| 19 | Maryland profile | $37.49 | $77,970 | $58,580 | $113,700 | 9,720 | 3.52 | 0.82 |
| 20 | Utah profile | $37.17 | $77,310 | $60,290 | $99,920 | 5,500 | 3.17 | 0.73 |
| 21 | Rhode Island profile | $37.13 | $77,230 | $59,020 | $91,760 | 1,940 | 3.88 | 0.90 |
| 22 | Ohio profile | $37.03 | $77,020 | $51,110 | $103,210 | 23,430 | 4.22 | 0.98 |
| 23 | Texas profile | $36.49 | $75,900 | $51,240 | $98,350 | 63,100 | 4.48 | 1.04 |
| 24 | Nebraska profile | $35.88 | $74,620 | $54,680 | $95,210 | 3,490 | 3.41 | 0.79 |
| 25 | North Dakota profile | $35.82 | $74,500 | $58,620 | $91,440 | 1,630 | 3.79 | 0.88 |
| 26 | Florida profile | $35.81 | $74,470 | $51,330 | $98,190 | 43,630 | 4.39 | 1.02 |
| 27 | Iowa profile | $35.81 | $74,470 | $59,360 | $101,520 | 5,130 | 3.29 | 0.76 |
| 28 | Michigan profile | $35.45 | $73,730 | $47,780 | $89,220 | 16,750 | 3.80 | 0.88 |
| 29 | Indiana profile | $35.27 | $73,370 | $52,170 | $100,010 | 12,980 | 4.05 | 0.94 |
| 30 | New Hampshire profile | $34.44 | $71,640 | $57,930 | $89,940 | 2,460 | 3.60 | 0.83 |
| 31 | Montana profile | $33.68 | $70,050 | $55,330 | $84,150 | 2,160 | 4.22 | 0.98 |
| 32 | New Mexico profile | $33.26 | $69,180 | $48,400 | $85,740 | 4,580 | 5.26 | 1.22 |
| 33 | Vermont profile | $33.13 | $68,910 | $53,950 | $95,530 | 1,020 | 3.35 | 0.78 |
| 34 | Maine profile | $32.24 | $67,050 | $55,930 | $91,270 | 2,120 | 3.32 | 0.77 |
| 35 | Idaho profile | $32.21 | $66,990 | $48,840 | $97,980 | 2,810 | 3.28 | 0.76 |
| 36 | Wyoming profile | $31.80 | $66,140 | $57,130 | $76,840 | 1,310 | 4.67 | 1.08 |
| 37 | Virginia profile | $31.67 | $65,870 | $50,000 | $96,820 | 19,970 | 4.86 | 1.13 |
| 38 | South Dakota profile | $29.20 | $60,740 | $47,540 | $91,900 | 2,000 | 4.36 | 1.01 |
| 39 | Kentucky profile | $29.08 | $60,490 | $38,780 | $77,970 | 7,890 | 3.94 | 0.91 |
| 40 | Oklahoma profile | $28.70 | $59,700 | $36,480 | $94,940 | 9,660 | 5.65 | 1.31 |
| 41 | Missouri profile | $28.59 | $59,460 | $43,210 | $90,770 | 13,570 | 4.62 | 1.07 |
| 42 | North Carolina profile | $28.51 | $59,300 | $46,040 | $80,240 | 22,370 | 4.53 | 1.05 |
| 43 | Tennessee profile | $28.50 | $59,280 | $43,520 | $79,480 | 15,630 | 4.77 | 1.11 |
| 44 | Kansas profile | $28.48 | $59,230 | $42,040 | $90,530 | 6,130 | 4.26 | 0.99 |
| 45 | Georgia profile | $27.94 | $58,120 | $43,690 | $76,250 | 22,170 | 4.53 | 1.05 |
| 46 | South Carolina profile | $27.92 | $58,070 | $45,060 | $78,760 | 12,930 | 5.61 | 1.30 |
| 47 | West Virginia profile | $27.39 | $56,960 | $41,950 | $69,980 | 2,900 | 4.14 | 0.96 |
| 48 | Alabama profile | $24.65 | $51,270 | $37,480 | $77,220 | 11,710 | 5.54 | 1.29 |
| 49 | Louisiana profile | $23.26 | $48,380 | $36,470 | $69,140 | 12,400 | 6.41 | 1.49 |
| 50 | Arkansas profile | $22.92 | $47,670 | $35,210 | $70,190 | 5,710 | 4.38 | 1.02 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $22.18 | $46,140 | $33,230 | $61,550 | 8,070 | 6.94 | 1.61 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (33-3050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Protective Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 33-3051 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 33-3051, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-3051.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.