Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Louisiana
In Louisiana, police and sheriff's patrol officers earn a median $48,380 a year, well below the national median of $76,210 (−37%); the state ranks 49th of 51 states by median. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn 6% more than the median across all occupations in Louisiana ($45,520). Among neighbouring states, Texas pays more (up to $75,900 in Texas) and Arkansas and Mississippi pay less (down to $46,140 in Mississippi). Louisiana employs 12,400 police and sheriff's patrol officers, 6.41 per 1,000 jobs, the 18th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.49 means the occupation is more concentrated in Louisiana than nationally.
Louisiana vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $17.54 | $20.72 | $23.26 | $28.58 | $33.24 | $24.64 | 12,400 | 6.41 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $36,470 | $43,090 | $48,380 | $59,440 | $69,140 | $51,250 | ||||
| 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
- 49th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 18th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.49
- Jobs per 1,000
- 6.41
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Louisiana'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 Louisiana
10 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching Louisiana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $28.91 | $60,130 | $39,860 | $65,640 | 1,370 | 8.42 | 1.95 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $27.06 | $56,290 | $45,220 | $72,420 | 1,780 | 17.54 | 4.07 |
| Monroe, LA | $24.36 | $50,670 | $34,900 | $61,510 | 620 | 7.12 | 1.65 |
| Lafayette, LA | $23.99 | $49,900 | $36,730 | $62,340 | 910 | 5.05 | 1.17 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $23.54 | $48,970 | $36,940 | $70,660 | 2,040 | 4.58 | 1.06 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $23.42 | $48,710 | $38,000 | $65,400 | 1,980 | 4.83 | 1.12 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $22.98 | $47,790 | $38,910 | $59,230 | 900 | 9.21 | 2.14 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $21.31 | $44,320 | $36,320 | $60,660 | 460 | 5.49 | 1.27 |
| Alexandria, LA | $21.15 | $43,980 | $32,000 | $58,100 | 390 | 6.42 | 1.49 |
| Hammond, LA | $19.50 | $40,560 | $29,860 | $58,810 | 380 | 7.92 | 1.84 |
| Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $19.02 | $39,550 | $29,890 | $58,550 | 570 | 7.27 | 1.68 |
| Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $18.85 | $39,210 | $32,810 | $56,070 | 290 | 3.62 | 0.84 |
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $17.79 | $36,990 | $29,430 | $57,520 | 720 | 11.52 | 2.67 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $23.26 | $48,380 | 12,400 | 1.49 |
| Arkansas | $22.92 | $47,670 | 5,710 | 1.02 |
| Mississippi | $22.18 | $46,140 | 8,070 | 1.61 |
| Texas | $36.49 | $75,900 | 63,100 | 1.04 |
See the national page for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (every state ranked) and the Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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.