Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Missouri
In Missouri, police and sheriff's patrol officers earn a median $59,460 a year, well below the national median of $76,210 (−22%); the state ranks 41st of 51 states by median. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn 24% more than the median across all occupations in Missouri ($47,800). Among neighbouring states, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, Kentucky and Oklahoma pay more (up to $100,520 in Illinois) and Tennessee, Kansas and Arkansas pay less (down to $47,670 in Arkansas). Missouri employs 13,570 police and sheriff's patrol officers, 4.62 per 1,000 jobs, the 15th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.07 is close to the national share.
Missouri vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $20.77 | $22.48 | $28.59 | $36.51 | $43.64 | $30.06 | 13,570 | 4.62 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $43,210 | $46,760 | $59,460 | $75,930 | $90,770 | $62,520 | ||||
| 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
- 41st of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 15th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.07
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.62
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Missouri'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 Missouri
8 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Missouri 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $35.21 | $73,240 | $48,540 | $92,490 | 5,950 | 4.43 | 1.03 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $30.27 | $62,960 | $47,120 | $95,920 | 4,820 | 4.39 | 1.02 |
| Columbia, MO | $29.85 | $62,080 | $43,540 | $73,380 | 310 | 2.87 | 0.67 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $28.78 | $59,860 | $43,000 | $96,680 | 620 | 7.71 | 1.79 |
| Springfield, MO | $28.11 | $58,460 | $43,840 | $78,460 | 1,010 | 4.54 | 1.05 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $27.97 | $58,170 | $41,930 | $79,170 | 270 | 4.96 | 1.15 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $26.93 | $56,010 | $43,970 | $74,940 | 150 | 3.46 | 0.80 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $21.86 | $45,460 | $37,620 | $70,810 | 360 | 4.14 | 0.96 |
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $22.75 | $47,320 | $37,540 | $60,860 | 890 | 5.75 | 1.33 |
| Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $22.45 | $46,690 | $36,220 | $58,400 | 390 | 4.86 | 1.13 |
| North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $21.67 | $45,070 | $36,320 | $65,990 | 760 | 7.12 | 1.65 |
| Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $21.65 | $45,040 | $36,580 | $68,790 | 1,120 | 6.81 | 1.58 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $28.59 | $59,460 | 13,570 | 1.07 |
| Arkansas | $22.92 | $47,670 | 5,710 | 1.02 |
| Iowa | $35.81 | $74,470 | 5,130 | 0.76 |
| Illinois | $48.33 | $100,520 | 29,180 | 1.11 |
| Kansas | $28.48 | $59,230 | 6,130 | 0.99 |
| Kentucky | $29.08 | $60,490 | 7,890 | 0.91 |
| Nebraska | $35.88 | $74,620 | 3,490 | 0.79 |
| Oklahoma | $28.70 | $59,700 | 9,660 | 1.31 |
| 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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.