Police Officer Salary By State: Highest-Paid Police Officers by State [2026]
Research Summary: The Zippia data science team has thoroughly analyzed police officer salary data across the United States for 2026, revealing the following insights:
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Alaska offers the highest average police officer salary at $78,839.
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Mississippi has the lowest average police officer salary at $30,822.
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The national average salary for police officers stands at $52,638.
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The national hourly wage for police officers is $25.31.
For further details on our methodology, you can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In 2026, salary remains the most critical factor for job seekers across various demographics, particularly for those considering a career as a police officer. Understanding local salary expectations is crucial for aspiring officers.
While individual salaries may vary based on specific locations and seniority, we have compiled extensive data that outlines average salaries for police officers by state. This data provides a clear picture of what to anticipate in terms of compensation.
Following our analysis, Alaska is confirmed to have the highest average salary for police officers in the United States.
Here’s an overview of the top ten states for police officer salaries:
Next, we will explore the full salary ranking of police officers by state.
Highest-Paid Police Officers By State
| Rank | State | Average Police Officer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $78,839 | $70,000 | $87,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $73,316 | $59,000 | $90,000 |
| 3 | Oregon | $70,488 | $55,000 | $89,000 |
| 4 | California | $67,408 | $49,000 | $91,000 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $62,265 | $51,000 | $74,000 |
| 6 | Colorado | $61,400 | $49,000 | $76,000 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $60,266 | $45,000 | $80,000 |
| 8 | Vermont | $60,112 | $46,000 | $77,000 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $59,433 | $48,000 | $72,000 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $56,693 | $42,000 | $75,000 |
| 11 | Illinois | $56,211 | $44,000 | $70,000 |
| 12 | Maryland | $56,143 | $42,000 | $74,000 |
| 13 | Nevada | $56,042 | $41,000 | $75,000 |
| 14 | New York | $55,639 | $41,000 | $74,000 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $55,401 | $41,000 | $74,000 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $54,894 | $44,000 | $67,000 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $52,850 | $39,000 | $70,000 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $51,430 | $41,000 | $64,000 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $50,646 | $38,000 | $66,000 |
| 20 | Ohio | $50,537 | $39,000 | $65,000 |
| 21 | Montana | $50,478 | $41,000 | $61,000 |
| 22 | Iowa | $50,441 | $40,000 | $63,000 |
| 23 | Michigan | $50,274 | $39,000 | $63,000 |
| 24 | Delaware | $50,191 | $37,000 | $67,000 |
| 25 | Arizona | $50,130 | $37,000 | $66,000 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $49,726 | $39,000 | $61,000 |
| 27 | Utah | $49,292 | $38,000 | $62,000 |
| 28 | Idaho | $49,067 | $39,000 | $61,000 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $48,782 | $36,000 | $65,000 |
| 30 | Texas | $48,083 | $36,000 | $64,000 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $45,256 | $36,000 | $55,000 |
| 32 | Missouri | $43,930 | $34,000 | $55,000 |
| 33 | Florida | $43,231 | $31,000 | $59,000 |
| 34 | Indiana | $43,189 | $33,000 | $55,000 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $42,590 | $32,000 | $55,000 |
| 36 | Virginia | $42,314 | $31,000 | $56,000 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $42,308 | $32,000 | $55,000 |
| 38 | Maine | $41,492 | $32,000 | $53,000 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $40,510 | $34,000 | $47,000 |
| 40 | Kansas | $39,151 | $30,000 | $49,000 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $37,638 | $29,000 | $48,000 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $36,849 | $28,000 | $47,000 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $36,744 | $28,000 | $48,000 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $36,157 | $27,000 | $47,000 |
| 45 | Georgia | $35,626 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $33,558 | $25,000 | $44,000 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $33,047 | $24,000 | $44,000 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $31,955 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 49 | Alabama | $31,858 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $30,822 | $23,000 | $40,000 |
Methodology: Police Officer Salary By State
To gain a comprehensive understanding of police officer salaries by state, Zippia aggregated data from multiple reliable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data was supplemented with actual salaries from job listings. The data science team then calculated a weighted average to determine the average salary for police officers in each state.
We ranked all states based on the average annual salary data for police officers, with the state offering the highest salary at the top of the list.
Police Officer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for police officers?
The highest-paid state for police officers is Alaska, with an average salary of $78,839 per year.
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What city pays police officers the most?
Anchorage, AK provides the highest police officer salary, averaging $78,724 annually.
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What is the lowest-paying state for police officers?
The state with the lowest average salary for police officers is Mississippi, with an average of $30,822 per year.
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.
