Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Kentucky
In Kentucky, police and sheriff's patrol officers earn a median $60,490 a year, well below the national median of $76,210 (−21%); the state ranks 39th of 51 states by median. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn 29% more than the median across all occupations in Kentucky ($46,920). Among neighbouring states, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Virginia pay more (up to $100,520 in Illinois) and Missouri, Tennessee and West Virginia pay less (down to $56,960 in West Virginia). Kentucky employs 7,890 police and sheriff's patrol officers, 3.94 per 1,000 jobs, the 28th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.91 is close to the national share.
Kentucky vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kentucky | Hourly | $18.65 | $23.05 | $29.08 | $33.17 | $37.49 | $28.77 | 7,890 | 3.94 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $38,780 | $47,940 | $60,490 | $68,990 | $77,970 | $59,840 | ||||
| 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
- 39th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 28th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.91
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.94
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Kentucky'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 Kentucky
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $38.66 | $80,410 | $57,070 | $98,630 | 3,900 | 3.55 | 0.82 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30.39 | $63,220 | $46,980 | $77,970 | 2,270 | 3.32 | 0.77 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $29.67 | $61,720 | $47,940 | $88,250 | 1,090 | 3.79 | 0.88 |
| Owensboro, KY | $29.60 | $61,560 | $47,940 | $73,080 | 170 | 3.41 | 0.79 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $29.11 | $60,550 | $38,620 | $75,200 | 360 | 4.42 | 1.02 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $28.72 | $59,730 | $36,990 | $68,500 | 160 | 3.14 | 0.73 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $28.38 | $59,030 | $44,990 | $80,790 | 340 | 6.61 | 1.53 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $27.70 | $57,610 | $46,690 | $75,400 | 730 | 7.08 | 1.64 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $26.98 | $56,130 | $40,140 | $71,480 | 620 | 4.37 | 1.01 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $27.65 | $57,500 | $37,360 | $77,870 | 890 | 5.15 | 1.19 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $26.64 | $55,420 | $37,360 | $68,990 | 610 | 4.71 | 1.09 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $23.40 | $48,680 | $30,350 | $75,200 | 440 | 4.77 | 1.11 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $22.82 | $47,460 | $35,000 | $67,560 | 790 | 4.59 | 1.07 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $29.08 | $60,490 | 7,890 | 0.91 |
| Illinois | $48.33 | $100,520 | 29,180 | 1.11 |
| Indiana | $35.27 | $73,370 | 12,980 | 0.94 |
| Missouri | $28.59 | $59,460 | 13,570 | 1.07 |
| Ohio | $37.03 | $77,020 | 23,430 | 0.98 |
| Tennessee | $28.50 | $59,280 | 15,630 | 1.11 |
| Virginia | $31.67 | $65,870 | 19,970 | 1.13 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 | $56,960 | 2,900 | 0.96 |
See the national page for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (every state ranked) and the Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.