Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Iowa
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Iowa have a median of $74,470 a year, below the national $76,210 (−2%); the state ranks 26th of 51 states by median. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn 53% more than the median across all occupations in Iowa ($48,540). Among neighbouring states, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska pay more (up to $100,520 in Illinois) and South Dakota and Missouri pay less (down to $59,460 in Missouri). Iowa employs 5,130 police and sheriff's patrol officers, 3.29 per 1,000 jobs, the 34th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.76 means it is less common in Iowa than nationally.
Iowa vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $28.54 | $30.68 | $35.81 | $41.42 | $48.81 | $36.67 | 5,130 | 3.29 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $59,360 | $63,810 | $74,470 | $86,160 | $101,520 | $76,280 | ||||
| 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
- 26th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 34th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.76
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.29
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Iowa'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 Iowa
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $39.33 | $81,810 | $62,540 | $104,470 | 1,240 | 3.07 | 0.71 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $38.60 | $80,280 | $63,240 | $95,210 | 1,640 | 3.30 | 0.76 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $38.11 | $79,280 | $62,560 | $97,430 | 450 | 3.20 | 0.74 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $37.97 | $78,970 | $58,870 | $92,990 | 310 | 3.73 | 0.87 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $37.95 | $78,940 | $49,690 | $86,160 | 220 | 2.89 | 0.67 |
| Iowa City, IA | $36.63 | $76,190 | $63,270 | $92,680 | 320 | 3.41 | 0.79 |
| Ames, IA | $35.50 | $73,840 | $53,880 | $87,010 | 150 | 2.75 | 0.64 |
| Dubuque, IA | $34.70 | $72,170 | $63,520 | $86,210 | 170 | 2.96 | 0.69 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $32.96 | $68,550 | $47,480 | $91,300 | 690 | 3.80 | 0.88 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $34.31 | $71,350 | $55,280 | $101,520 | 470 | 3.24 | 0.75 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $32.22 | $67,010 | $58,390 | $88,820 | 440 | 4.40 | 1.02 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $31.82 | $66,190 | $57,140 | $97,530 | 300 | 4.04 | 0.94 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $31.21 | $64,910 | $56,380 | $86,000 | 660 | 3.32 | 0.77 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (every state ranked) and the Iowa 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 Iowa estimates.
- 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.