Find a Job You Really Want In
As you embark on your career as a police officer or consider relocating for better opportunities, understanding the best cities for your profession is crucial. The location can significantly influence your salary, job availability, and career growth potential. In 2026, several cities across the United States stand out for police officers looking for rewarding employment.
To assist you in making an informed decision, we at Zippia analyzed the current job market for police officers. We evaluated various cities based on salaries, job availability, and the overall cost of living to identify the best locations for police work.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we compiled the following list of the top cities for police officers:
- Los Angeles, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Miami, FL
- Chicago, IL
- Trenton, NJ
- Visalia, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Oxnard, CA
- Redding, CA
- Atlantic City, NJ
This ranking places Los Angeles at the top as the most favorable city for police officers in 2026.
Conversely, if you’re a police officer contemplating relocation, it may be wise to steer clear of Hammond, IN, which has been identified as one of the less favorable locations for police officers.
Continue reading to discover the methodology behind our research and detailed insights into each of the top ten cities for police officers.
How We Determined the Best Cities for Police Officers
At Zippia, we engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds seeking job opportunities. Our research indicates that two primary factors influence job selection:
- Job availability
- Competitive pay
To identify the best cities for police officers in America, we evaluated where jobs are most accessible and how well officers are compensated. Our analysis utilized criteria from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics:
- Location quotient: A measure of job concentration in a city.
- Average annual salary.
- Average annual salary for entry-level positions.
To ensure a fair comparison, we adjusted salary figures based on the cost of living in each state. Our research covered 401 metropolitan areas, simplifying the analysis by referring to the primary area of each metro as the ‘city’ (for instance, the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division was labeled as Boston).
We ranked each city based on the criteria from 1 to 401, with 1 being the best. By averaging these rankings, we calculated a Job Score, with the city having the lowest score recognized as the top city for police officers in America.
Now, let’s delve into what makes each of these cities exceptional for police officers.
1. Los Angeles, CA
Total Jobs: 25,450
Average Annual Salary: $96,810
Average Entry Level Salary: $66,500
Location Quotient: 1.31
2. Philadelphia, PA
Total Jobs: 6,730
Average Annual Salary: $67,130
Average Entry Level Salary: $47,000
Location Quotient: 1.61
3. Miami, FL
Total Jobs: 7,770
Average Annual Salary: $73,350
Average Entry Level Salary: $49,210
Location Quotient: 1.5
4. Chicago, IL
Total Jobs: 21,220
Average Annual Salary: $74,860
Average Entry Level Salary: $50,350
Location Quotient: 1.25
5. Trenton, NJ
Total Jobs: 1,180
Average Annual Salary: $90,980
Average Entry Level Salary: $62,270
Location Quotient: 1.12
6. Visalia, CA
Total Jobs: 970
Average Annual Salary: $73,150
Average Entry Level Salary: $52,390
Location Quotient: 1.46
7. Santa Cruz, CA
Total Jobs: 430
Average Annual Salary: $100,430
Average Entry Level Salary: $69,860
Location Quotient: 1.02
8. Oxnard, CA
Total Jobs: 1,430
Average Annual Salary: $102,570
Average Entry Level Salary: $67,080
Location Quotient: 1.02
9. Redding, CA
Total Jobs: 310
Average Annual Salary: $90,440
Average Entry Level Salary: $53,230
Location Quotient: 1.13
10. Atlantic City, NJ
Total Jobs: 930
Average Annual Salary: $81,820
Average Entry Level Salary: $43,830
Location Quotient: 1.55
And That’s Our List of the Best Cities for Police Officers
If you are entering the police force or contemplating a move, consider these cities for high salaries, abundant job opportunities, and possibilities for advancement.
For those curious about the least favorable locations for police officers in America, here are the top three to avoid:
- Hammond, IN
- Monroe, LA
- Bangor, ME
Detailed List Of The Best Cities For Police Officers
| Rank | State | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,810 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,130 |
| 3 | Miami, FL | $73,350 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $74,860 |
| 5 | Trenton, NJ | $90,980 |
| 6 | Visalia, CA | $73,150 |
| 7 | Santa Cruz, CA | $100,430 |
| 8 | Oxnard, CA | $102,570 |
| 9 | Redding, CA | $90,440 |
| 10 | Atlantic City, NJ | $81,820 |
| 11 | Vallejo, CA | $96,870 |
| 12 | Fort Worth, TX | $65,130 |
| 13 | Erie, PA | $71,970 |
| 14 | Chico, CA | $80,500 |
| 15 | Champaign, IL | $70,300 |
| 16 | Elgin, IL | $75,270 |
| 17 | San Francisco, CA | $108,150 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $62,370 |
| 19 | Beaumont, TX | $60,670 |
| 20 | El Paso, TX | $60,020 |
| 21 | Oakland, CA | $98,580 |
| 22 | Newark, NJ | $89,260 |
| 23 | Amarillo, TX | $58,900 |
| 24 | Racine, WI | $64,230 |
| 25 | Bakersfield, CA | $73,060 |
| 26 | Sacramento, CA | $87,300 |
| 27 | Houston, TX | $61,030 |
| 28 | Dover, DE | $66,720 |
| 29 | San Jose, CA | $114,520 |
| 30 | Laredo, TX | $60,890 |
| 31 | Mount Vernon, WA | $73,030 |
| 32 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $85,030 |
| 33 | Columbus, OH | $66,050 |
| 34 | San Diego, CA | $78,420 |
| 35 | West Palm Beach, FL | $67,200 |
| 36 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $67,210 |
| 37 | Riverside, CA | $88,050 |
| 38 | Stockton, CA | $83,810 |
| 39 | Santa Maria, CA | $94,230 |
| 40 | South Bend, IN | $51,210 |
| 41 | Austin, TX | $68,410 |
| 42 | Dallas, TX | $63,990 |
| 43 | Cleveland, OH | $58,620 |
| 44 | Dayton, OH | $59,580 |
| 45 | Pueblo, CO | $63,520 |
| 46 | Hanford, CA | $68,800 |
| 47 | Brockton, MA | $66,370 |
| 48 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $54,910 |
| 49 | Farmington, NM | $50,740 |
| 50 | San Angelo, TX | $51,130 |
| 51 | Salem, OR | $69,440 |
| 52 | Lancaster, PA | $70,520 |
| 53 | El Centro, CA | $77,160 |
| 54 | San Antonio, TX | $56,960 |
| 55 | Montgomery County, PA | $77,540 |
| 56 | Naples, FL | $58,760 |
| 57 | Fort Collins, CO | $74,260 |
| 58 | Las Vegas, NV | $76,460 |
| 59 | Decatur, IL | $62,310 |
| 60 | Boulder, CO | $70,810 |
| 61 | Kankakee, IL | $66,540 |
| 62 | Camden, NJ | $76,430 |
| 63 | New York, NY | $73,480 |
| 64 | Toledo, OH | $53,000 |
| 65 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,260 |
| 66 | Salinas, CA | $80,820 |
| 67 | Anchorage, AK | $78,100 |
| 68 | Tacoma, WA | $74,380 |
| 69 | Gary, IN | $51,410 |
| 70 | Reno, NV | $66,210 |
| 71 | Merced, CA | $75,010 |
| 72 | Colorado Springs, CO | $64,790 |
| 73 | Santa Rosa, CA | $97,420 |
| 74 | Nassau County, NY | $97,910 |
| 75 | Madera, CA | $68,410 |
| 76 | Coeur d’Alene, ID | $52,210 |
| 77 | Bellingham, WA | $71,410 |
| 78 | Lewiston, ID | $50,980 |
| 79 | Punta Gorda, FL | $51,410 |
| 80 | Killeen, TX | $51,640 |
| 81 | Napa, CA | $104,010 |
| 82 | Anaheim, CA | $97,530 |
| 83 | Akron, OH | $56,020 |
| 84 | Seattle, WA | $82,120 |
| 85 | East Stroudsburg, PA | $81,150 |
| 86 | Wilmington, DE | $66,000 |
| 87 | Yakima, WA | $68,150 |
| 88 | Cincinnati, OH | $59,860 |
| 89 | College Station, TX | $55,560 |
| 90 | Kennewick, WA | $73,110 |
| 91 | Lake County, IL | $73,970 |
| 92 | Lima, OH | $51,490 |
| 93 | Tucson, AZ | $57,280 |
| 94 | Denver, CO | $71,740 |
| 95 | Flagstaff, AZ | $55,000 |
| 96 | Allentown, PA | $62,660 |
| 97 | Janesville, WI | $56,880 |
| 98 | Sherman, TX | $52,030 |
| 99 | Decatur, AL | $51,940 |
| 100 | Greeley, CO | $56,240 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
