All careers › Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers › New Jersey
Police officer salary in New Jersey
- $57,740lowest 10% earn less
- $67,07025th percentile
- $92,610median
- $117,80075th percentile
- $134,260top 10% earn more
The median pay for police officers in New Jersey was $92,610 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $16,400 higher than the US median[6].
How much do police officers make in New Jersey?
Police officers in New Jersey had a median wage of $92,610 a year, or $44.53 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more than that and half earned less. The average wage was $93,700 a year[7]. New Jersey had the 8th highest median annual wage for this job among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5].
The US median for police officers was $76,210 a year[3]. New Jersey's median was $16,400 (21.5%) higher[6]. Across all jobs in the state, the median was $58,570 a year[8], so police officers earned $34,040 more than that[9].
The lowest-paid 10% of police officers in New Jersey earned less than $57,740 a year[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $134,260[2]. Among the metro areas in or partly in the state, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median, $105,540[10]. Trenton-Princeton, NJ was at $69,160[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].
New Jersey vs US pay
Pay for police officers in New Jersey next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in New Jersey
Metro areas in New Jersey with the most jobs for police officers, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ[11] | $105,540 | 54,270 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $89,580 | 13,160 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $84,530 | 1,610 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $76,760 | 1,100 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $69,160 | 840 |
| Vineland, NJ | $67,510 | 260 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for police officers in the states that border New Jersey, highest first[14].
Job outlook and training
Across the US, jobs for police officers are projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a police officer make in New Jersey?
- The median pay for police officers in New Jersey was $92,610 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $93,700 a year[7].
- How much does a police officer make an hour in New Jersey?
- The median hourly wage for police officers in New Jersey was $44.53[1]. The hourly wage at the low boundary was $27.76 and at the high boundary was $64.55[17].
- Which city in New Jersey pays police officers the most?
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median annual wage among the metro areas in or partly in New Jersey, $105,540[10]. Metro areas that cross state lines are counted as a whole[11].
- Is New Jersey a good state for police officers?
- New Jersey had the 8th highest median annual wage for this job among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $92,610 was $16,400 higher than the US median[6].
- What do you need to become a police officer in New Jersey?
- This is a US figure, not a New Jersey one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[16].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Jersey was $92,610 per year and $44.53 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Jersey: 10th percentile $57,740, 25th percentile $67,070, 75th percentile $117,800, 90th percentile $134,260. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the US as a whole was $76,210 per year and $36.64 per hour, with about 670,520 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 21,780 people worked as Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Jersey (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: New Jersey had the 8th highest median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Jersey ($92,610) was $16,400 (21.5%) higher than the US median ($76,210). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Jersey was $93,700 per year and $45.05 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in New Jersey was $58,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Jersey was $34,040 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,570). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 6 metro areas in or partly in New Jersey with a published median for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median annual wage, $105,540. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the US: 10th percentile $47,510, 25th percentile $59,290, 75th percentile $97,600, 90th percentile $115,120. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in states that border New Jersey (highest first): Delaware $92,970; New York $92,790; Pennsylvania $85,470. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is projected to grow 3.5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 51,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Jersey: 10th percentile $27.76, 25th percentile $32.25, 75th percentile $56.64, 90th percentile $64.55. BLS OEWS, May 2025