Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary

Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD

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Avg Median Salary

$75,067

Highest Paying City

San Francisco

$106,000

Cities Tracked

60

What Do Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Do?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers are dedicated to safeguarding individuals and communities. Whether patrolling streets, fighting fires, or monitoring security, they put themselves at risk to keep others safe.

Work environments vary from patrol vehicles and offices to outdoor posts and emergency scenes. Many roles require shift work, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The work can be physically demanding and stressful.

Key Skills for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Physical FitnessSituational AwarenessCommunicationDecision MakingConflict ResolutionEmergency Response

Education Requirements

High school diploma to bachelor's degree, depending on the role

Requirements vary significantly. Police officers typically need some college education or a degree. Firefighters usually need a high school diploma plus fire academy training. Federal law enforcement positions often require a bachelor's degree.

Career Outlook

Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average, with ongoing need for public safety professionals in communities of all sizes.

How to Increase Your Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary

  • 1.Pursue advanced training and specialized certifications
  • 2.Earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice for federal or detective roles
  • 3.Develop leadership skills for promotion to supervisory positions
  • 4.Build expertise in emerging areas like cybercrime or digital forensics
  • 5.Consider bilingual skills for serving diverse communities

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary by City

CityMedianAverageRange (10th-90th)Currency
San Francisco, CA
$106,000
$110,000$58,000 - $142,000USDApply
San Jose, CA
$104,000
$106,000$57,000 - $139,000USDApply
Seattle, WA
$95,000
$106,000$57,000 - $124,000USDApply
New York, NY
$93,000
$97,000$56,000 - $121,000USDApply
Washington DC, DC
$92,000
$98,000$55,000 - $120,000USDApply
Boston, MA
$92,000
$99,000$55,000 - $120,000USDApply
Los Angeles, CA
$87,000
$94,000$52,000 - $113,000USDApply
San Diego, CA
$84,000
$89,000$50,000 - $109,000USDApply
Denver, CO
$84,000
$94,000$50,000 - $109,000USDApply
Honolulu, HI
$84,000
$87,000$50,000 - $109,000USDApply
Baltimore, MD
$83,000
$92,000$50,000 - $108,000USDApply
Sacramento, CA
$83,000
$90,000$50,000 - $108,000USDApply
Philadelphia, PA
$82,000
$86,000$49,000 - $107,000USDApply
Austin, TX
$82,000
$91,000$49,000 - $107,000USDApply
Hartford, CT
$82,000
$85,000$49,000 - $107,000USDApply
Anchorage, AK
$82,000
$85,000$49,000 - $107,000USDApply
Minneapolis, MN
$81,000
$88,000$49,000 - $105,000USDApply
Dallas, TX
$80,000
$89,000$48,000 - $104,000USDApply
Portland, OR
$80,000
$84,000$48,000 - $104,000USDApply
Chicago, IL
$78,000
$82,000$47,000 - $101,000USDApply
Houston, TX
$78,000
$85,000$47,000 - $101,000USDApply
Salt Lake City, UT
$76,000
$84,000$46,000 - $99,000USDApply
Richmond, VA
$76,000
$84,000$46,000 - $99,000USDApply
Atlanta, GA
$75,000
$82,000$45,000 - $98,000USDApply
Raleigh, NC
$75,000
$82,000$45,000 - $98,000USDApply
Milwaukee, WI
$75,000
$78,000$45,000 - $98,000USDApply
Detroit, MI
$74,000
$80,000$44,000 - $96,000USDApply
Nashville, TN
$74,000
$76,000$44,000 - $96,000USDApply
Kansas City, MO
$74,000
$78,000$44,000 - $96,000USDApply
Phoenix, AZ
$73,000
$81,000$44,000 - $95,000USDApply
Charlotte, NC
$73,000
$77,000$44,000 - $95,000USDApply
Cincinnati, OH
$73,000
$75,000$44,000 - $95,000USDApply
Miami, FL
$72,000
$77,000$43,000 - $94,000USDApply
Columbus, OH
$72,000
$76,000$43,000 - $94,000USDApply
Indianapolis, IN
$72,000
$80,000$43,000 - $94,000USDApply
Buffalo, NY
$72,000
$78,000$43,000 - $94,000USDApply
St. Louis, MO
$71,000
$79,000$43,000 - $92,000USDApply
Jacksonville, FL
$71,000
$73,000$43,000 - $92,000USDApply
Louisville, KY
$71,000
$76,000$43,000 - $92,000USDApply
New Orleans, LA
$71,000
$79,000$43,000 - $92,000USDApply
Las Vegas, NV
$70,000
$73,000$46,000 - $88,000USDApply
Tampa, FL
$70,000
$77,000$46,000 - $88,000USDApply
Orlando, FL
$70,000
$76,000$46,000 - $88,000USDApply
Pittsburgh, PA
$70,000
$72,000$46,000 - $88,000USDApply
Cleveland, OH
$70,000
$75,000$46,000 - $88,000USDApply
Memphis, TN
$69,000
$72,000$45,000 - $87,000USDApply
Toronto, ON
$69,000
$76,000$45,000 - $87,000CADApply
San Antonio, TX
$68,000
$71,000$44,000 - $86,000USDApply
Birmingham, AL
$68,000
$75,000$44,000 - $86,000USDApply
Tucson, AZ
$67,000
$69,000$44,000 - $85,000USDApply
Vancouver, BC
$67,000
$69,000$44,000 - $85,000CADApply
Calgary, AB
$67,000
$72,000$44,000 - $85,000CADApply
Oklahoma City, OK
$66,000
$71,000$43,000 - $83,000USDApply
Ottawa, ON
$64,000
$68,000$42,000 - $81,000CADApply
Edmonton, AB
$64,000
$65,000$42,000 - $81,000CADApply
Montreal, QC
$58,000
$61,000$38,000 - $73,000CADApply
Hamilton, ON
$58,000
$62,000$38,000 - $73,000CADApply
Winnipeg, MB
$56,000
$57,000$36,000 - $71,000CADApply
Halifax, NS
$56,000
$57,000$36,000 - $71,000CADApply
Quebec City, QC
$55,000
$61,000$36,000 - $69,000CADApply