Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has conducted an extensive analysis to present the latest data on officer salaries by state in the United States for 2026:
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New York ranks as the highest-paying state for officers with an average salary of $90,595.
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Idaho reports the lowest officer salary at $26,688.
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The national average salary for officers stands at $52,506.
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Officers nationwide earn an average hourly wage of $25.24.
For further details on our specific methodology, click here.
Background
Salary remains a top priority for job seekers across all demographics. Many individuals ask, “How much do officers earn in my area?” Understanding the salary landscape is crucial in today’s labor market.
While individual earnings can vary based on many factors, robust data exists outlining average officer salaries by state, segmented by seniority level. While your city’s figures may differ slightly from state averages, these benchmarks provide a solid starting point for salary expectations.
Currently, New York boasts the highest salary for officers, establishing a significant benchmark for the profession.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for officer salaries:
Let’s delve into the details and provide a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Officers By State
| Rank | State | Average Officer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $90,595 | $51,000 | $158,000 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $79,605 | $45,000 | $138,000 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $78,589 | $44,000 | $139,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $77,567 | $45,000 | $131,000 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $75,887 | $44,000 | $129,000 |
| 6 | Delaware | $72,658 | $40,000 | $131,000 |
| 7 | Maryland | $71,603 | $39,000 | $131,000 |
| 8 | Virginia | $66,224 | $35,000 | $123,000 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $65,518 | $38,000 | $110,000 |
| 10 | Vermont | $61,449 | $36,000 | $103,000 |
| 11 | Maine | $60,902 | $37,000 | $100,000 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $60,179 | $31,000 | $114,000 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $55,622 | $30,000 | $100,000 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $54,615 | $29,000 | $101,000 |
| 15 | Missouri | $54,439 | $32,000 | $91,000 |
| 16 | California | $53,691 | $29,000 | $99,000 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $52,974 | $29,000 | $94,000 |
| 18 | Ohio | $51,990 | $28,000 | $95,000 |
| 19 | Michigan | $50,717 | $27,000 | $92,000 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $47,687 | $39,000 | $57,000 |
| 21 | Illinois | $46,102 | $25,000 | $82,000 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $45,536 | $27,000 | $76,000 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $44,352 | $28,000 | $68,000 |
| 24 | Texas | $44,075 | $24,000 | $80,000 |
| 25 | Indiana | $43,694 | $23,000 | $79,000 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $42,834 | $22,000 | $80,000 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $42,647 | $23,000 | $78,000 |
| 28 | Washington | $40,719 | $26,000 | $62,000 |
| 29 | Alabama | $40,701 | $22,000 | $73,000 |
| 30 | Florida | $40,381 | $21,000 | $76,000 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $38,528 | $21,000 | $68,000 |
| 32 | Georgia | $38,344 | $20,000 | $70,000 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $37,957 | $20,000 | $69,000 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $37,875 | $21,000 | $67,000 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $37,664 | $24,000 | $58,000 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $37,335 | $21,000 | $63,000 |
| 37 | Arizona | $37,228 | $20,000 | $66,000 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $37,157 | $23,000 | $59,000 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $36,996 | $22,000 | $61,000 |
| 40 | Iowa | $36,564 | $21,000 | $61,000 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $36,406 | $24,000 | $53,000 |
| 42 | Nevada | $36,222 | $20,000 | $64,000 |
| 43 | Colorado | $36,051 | $23,000 | $55,000 |
| 44 | Kansas | $36,008 | $22,000 | $58,000 |
| 45 | Alaska | $35,107 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $33,659 | $19,000 | $58,000 |
| 47 | Oregon | $32,730 | $20,000 | $53,000 |
| 48 | Utah | $30,669 | $20,000 | $46,000 |
| 49 | Montana | $27,008 | $19,000 | $37,000 |
| 50 | Idaho | $26,688 | $18,000 | $39,000 |
Methodology: Officer Salary By State
To analyze officer compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We enhance this information with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to present an accurate average salary for officers across states.
Using this average annual salary data, we rank each state based on the highest average salary for officers.
Officer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for officers?
The highest-paying state for officers is New York, with an average salary of $90,595 annually.
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Which city pays officers the most?
New York, NY offers the highest average salary for officers at $90,999 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for officers?
The state with the lowest average salary for officers is Idaho, at $26,688 annually.
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.
