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Police officer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$76,210median pay per year, or $36.64 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $47,510lowest 10% earn less
  2. $59,29025th percentile
  3. $76,210median
  4. $97,60075th percentile
  5. $115,120top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[7]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A police officer earns a median of $76,210 a year, well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. The usual path is a high school diploma, an agency training academy and on-the-job training, but the work is stressful and carries real physical risk[3][4][5][6].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.5%[8]
Openings per year
51,500[9]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[3]

How much do police officers make?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers had a median wage of $76,210 a year, or $36.64 an hour, in May 2025[1]. The median is the midpoint: half of officers earned more and half earned less[10]. The average (mean) wage was a little higher, at $79,200 a year or $38.08 an hour[11].

For comparison, the typical US worker across all occupations earned a median of $50,980[2].

Pay varies a lot from one officer to the next:

Percentile Annual pay Hourly pay
10th $47,510 $22.84
25th $59,290 $28.50
50th (median)[1] $76,210 $36.64
75th $97,600 $46.93
90th $115,120 $55.35

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,510 a year, and the top 10% earned more than $115,120[7]. Percentiles are boundaries. They are not a starting salary, and BLS does not publish one[10].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the value of benefits like health insurance and retirement plans, and they leave out nonproduction bonuses[13].

Pay by state and city

State medians differ widely[14]. California has the highest median at $118,880, followed by Washington ($102,080), Illinois ($100,520), Alaska ($99,130) and Colorado ($97,350)[14]. At the other end, Mississippi has the lowest median at $46,140, with Arkansas ($47,670) and Louisiana ($48,380) just above it[14].

Seven of the eight top-paying metro areas are in California[15]. Counting only areas with 100 or more jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara leads at $136,140, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $132,000[15]. Carson City, Nevada is the one area outside California in that group, at $131,210[15].

California has the most jobs (65,940), with Texas close behind (63,100)[16]. Next come New York (53,470), Florida (43,630) and Illinois (29,180)[16]. Texas pays a median of $75,900, close to the national figure[14][1]. Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City has by far the most jobs, 54,270, with a median of $105,540[17]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (24,720 jobs) and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (22,680 jobs) come next[17].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[14]$118,88065,940
Washington$102,0809,160
Illinois$100,52029,180
Alaska$99,1301,260
Colorado$97,3509,610
Delaware$92,9701,800
New York$92,79053,470
New Jersey$92,61021,780
District of Columbia$88,6504,720
Oregon$88,1405,030
Pennsylvania$85,47026,510
Hawaii$83,8202,420
Minnesota$83,3609,160
Connecticut$82,1706,500
Massachusetts$78,94017,040
Arizona$78,88012,010
Nevada$78,1405,720
Wisconsin$78,09012,320
Maryland$77,9709,720
Utah$77,3105,500
Rhode Island$77,2301,940
Ohio$77,02023,430
Texas$75,90063,100
Nebraska$74,6203,490
North Dakota$74,5001,630
Florida$74,47043,630
Iowa$74,4705,130
Michigan$73,73016,750
Indiana$73,37012,980
New Hampshire$71,6402,460
Montana$70,0502,160
New Mexico$69,1804,580
Vermont$68,9101,020
Maine$67,0502,120
Idaho$66,9902,810
Wyoming$66,1401,310
Virginia$65,87019,970
South Dakota$60,7402,000
Kentucky$60,4907,890
Oklahoma$59,7009,660
Missouri$59,46013,570
North Carolina$59,30022,370
Tennessee$59,28015,630
Kansas$59,2306,130
Georgia$58,12022,170
South Carolina$58,07012,930
West Virginia$56,9602,900
Alabama$51,27011,710
Louisiana$48,38012,400
Arkansas$47,6705,710
Mississippi$46,1408,070

How to become a police officer

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no related work experience needed and moderate-term on-the-job training[3]. The training details below come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for police and detectives, which covers a wider group than patrol officers alone[18].

1) Finish high school or earn an equivalent[3]. Some police departments and federal agencies want college coursework or a full degree, and many people applying for entry-level police jobs have taken some college classes[19][20]. 2) Check the basic requirements: candidates usually must be at least 21[4]. Most state and local jurisdictions require U.S. citizenship, though some do not, and federal officers must be citizens[21]. 3) Pass the screening, since agencies expect candidates to meet demanding physical and personal standards, and a felony conviction or drug use can rule you out[4]. For cadet candidates, the OOH describes tests of vision, hearing, strength and agility, written exams, a series of interviews, and possibly polygraph and drug tests[22]. 4) Graduate from your agency's training academy[4]. Classes cover state and local laws, constitutional law, civil rights and police ethics, and recruits get supervised practice in patrol, traffic control, firearms, self-defense, first aid and emergency response[23]. 5) Finish a period of on-the-job training after the academy[4][3].

If you are too young to apply, some departments run cadet programs. Cadets do clerical work and take classes until they are old enough to join the regular force[24].

O*NET rates the job as Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation is needed[25]. Detectives usually start out as police officers, because their work calls for law enforcement experience[26]. Detectives and criminal investigators earned a median of $93,790, and first-line supervisors of police and detectives earned $106,040[27].

What police officers do

Patrol officers keep order and protect people and property by enforcing laws, from local ordinances up to federal law[28]. The category also includes police officers who work at educational institutions[28]. Common job titles include Deputy Sheriff, Patrol Officer, K-9 Handler and Public Safety Officer[29].

Typical tasks include:

Where they work

Almost all of these jobs are in government. In 2025, government (not counting state and local education and hospitals) employed 96% of police and detectives[31].

The work is hard on the body and the mind, and it can be dangerous[5]. Officers need to stay alert for the whole shift, and they often work at crime and accident scenes where they see suffering and the aftermath of violence[5]. Police and sheriff's patrol officers have some of the highest injury and illness rates of any occupation, partly from conflicts with suspects and other high-risk situations[6]. Many officers find helping their communities rewarding, the OOH notes[5].

The OOH says most police and detectives have full-time jobs[32]. Overtime pay is common, and shifts run around the clock because someone has to be on duty at every hour[32].

Federal jobs can look different. Agencies such as the FBI and the Secret Service may require frequent travel on short notice and several moves over a career[33]. FBI special agents put in 50 or more hours a week and stay on call at all times[34].

Job outlook

BLS expects the number of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers jobs to rise by 3.5% between 2025 and 2035, reaching about 717,300[8]. That is the same 3.5% rate projected for all occupations[35].

About 51,500 openings are expected each year on average[9]. That count includes jobs left behind by workers who retire or switch careers, not only newly created positions[9]. Each year, an average of 2.1% of officers leave the labor force and 4.9% move into a different occupation[36].

The projection counts include self-employed workers, so the 2025 total differs from the 670,520 jobs in the wage survey[8][37].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job that pays well above the typical US wage, with a median of $76,210 against $50,980 for all occupations[1][2], and that usually requires a high school diploma rather than a college degree[3]. Pay depends heavily on location, from a $46,140 median in Mississippi to $118,880 in California[14]. Job growth matches the overall rate, with about 51,500 openings a year[8][35][9]. The tradeoffs are real: an academy, strict screening, shift work and some of the highest injury rates of any occupation[4][32][6]. It suits people who can handle stress and physical risk and who want work centered on helping their community[5].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[27].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a police officer make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $36.64 in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $22.84 an hour, and the top 10% earned more than $55.35[12].
What is the highest paying state for police officers?
California, with a median of $118,880 a year[14]. Washington ($102,080) and Illinois ($100,520) come next[14].
What degree do you need to be a police officer?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[3]. Some police departments and federal agencies require college coursework or a degree[19].
Are police officers in demand?
Jobs are projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035, the same rate as all occupations, with about 51,500 openings a year[8][35][9].
How old do you have to be to become a police officer?
Candidates usually must be at least 21[4]. Some departments run cadet programs for younger people, and cadet candidates usually must be at least 18[24][22].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the US was $76,210 per year and $36.64 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  5. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  6. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: 10th percentile $47,510, 25th percentile $59,290, 75th percentile $97,600, 90th percentile $115,120. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 693,200 to 717,300 jobs (a change of +24,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  9. BLS Employment Projections: about 51,500 openings for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers was $79,200 per year and $38.08 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: 10th percentile $22.84, 25th percentile $28.50, 75th percentile $46.93, 90th percentile $55.35. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. Median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $136,140; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $132,000; Carson City, NV $131,210; Vallejo, CA $129,900; Napa, CA $127,310; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $125,910; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $122,970; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $121,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers jobs: California 65,940; Texas 63,100; New York 53,470; Florida 43,630; Illinois 29,180. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 54,270 (median $105,540); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 24,720 (median $121,980); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 22,680 (median $107,810); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 16,430 (median $92,910); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 16,250 (median $74,570); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 14,710 (median $79,840). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Police and Detectives" covers Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 33-3051.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET description of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 33-3051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Deputy Sheriff, K-9 Handler (Canine Handler), Law Enforcement Officer, Patrol Officer, Peace Officer, Police Officer, Police Patrol Officer, Public Safety Officer (PSO). O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. O*NET OnLine
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of police and detectives in 2025: Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals 96%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: 2.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 670,520 people were employed as Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.