Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Georgia
In Georgia, police and sheriff's patrol officers earn a median $58,120 a year, well below the national median of $76,210 (−24%); the state ranks 45th of 51 states by median. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn 21% more than the median across all occupations in Georgia ($48,170). Among neighbouring states, Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee pay more (up to $74,470 in Florida) and South Carolina and Alabama pay less (down to $51,270 in Alabama). Georgia employs 22,170 police and sheriff's patrol officers, 4.53 per 1,000 jobs, the 9th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.05 is close to the national share.
Georgia vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $21.00 | $23.22 | $27.94 | $30.42 | $36.66 | $28.14 | 22,170 | 4.53 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $43,690 | $48,290 | $58,120 | $63,270 | $76,250 | $58,520 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 45th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 9th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.05
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.53
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Georgia's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Georgia
14 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Georgia publish a row for police and sheriff's patrol officers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, GA | $29.52 | $61,400 | $50,970 | $76,080 | 420 | 4.03 | 0.93 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $29.29 | $60,910 | $48,700 | $79,280 | 11,310 | 3.91 | 0.91 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $29.19 | $60,710 | $41,720 | $75,010 | 570 | 5.92 | 1.37 |
| Dalton, GA | $28.91 | $60,130 | $46,220 | $74,660 | 290 | 4.48 | 1.04 |
| Savannah, GA | $28.81 | $59,930 | $44,140 | $77,250 | 1,090 | 5.51 | 1.28 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $28.07 | $58,390 | $43,920 | $75,680 | 1,120 | 4.85 | 1.12 |
| Hinesville, GA | $27.91 | $58,060 | $46,730 | $72,460 | 150 | 7.38 | 1.71 |
| Albany, GA | $25.82 | $53,710 | $38,750 | $66,690 | 380 | 6.46 | 1.50 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $25.46 | $52,950 | $41,310 | $78,320 | 450 | 5.89 | 1.37 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $24.68 | $51,330 | $44,720 | $78,000 | 730 | 2.70 | 0.63 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $24.03 | $49,990 | $44,260 | $63,050 | 1,010 | 8.70 | 2.02 |
| Valdosta, GA | $22.58 | $46,960 | $40,900 | $63,680 | 270 | 5.05 | 1.17 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $22.42 | $46,630 | $39,240 | $80,190 | 770 | 8.08 | 1.87 |
| Rome, GA | * | * | * | * | 260 | 5.77 | 1.34 |
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $22.85 | $47,530 | $40,250 | $62,670 | 1,050 | 5.58 | 1.29 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $22.28 | $46,340 | $37,940 | $65,410 | 940 | 6.75 | 1.56 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $21.57 | $44,870 | $37,560 | $58,820 | 1,390 | 7.22 | 1.67 |
| East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $21.29 | $44,280 | $36,600 | $63,680 | 670 | 7.58 | 1.76 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $27.94 | $58,120 | 22,170 | 1.05 |
| Alabama | $24.65 | $51,270 | 11,710 | 1.29 |
| Florida | $35.81 | $74,470 | 43,630 | 1.02 |
| North Carolina | $28.51 | $59,300 | 22,370 | 1.05 |
| South Carolina | $27.92 | $58,070 | 12,930 | 1.30 |
| Tennessee | $28.50 | $59,280 | 15,630 | 1.11 |
See the national page for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (every state ranked) and the Georgia wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Georgia estimates.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- 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.