Best cities for a law enforcement officer
The best cities for law enforcement officers are Newark, NJ, Buffalo, NY, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for law enforcement officers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for law enforcement officers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a law enforcement officer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for law enforcement officers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for law enforcement officers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a law enforcement officer. While the absolute best city for law enforcement officers is Newark, NJ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for law enforcement officers in 2024.
If you're looking for a law enforcement officer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for law enforcement officers in 2026
1. Newark, NJ
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $48,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 3.82 2. Buffalo, NY
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $50,698 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 2.90 3. New York, NY
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $49,904 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.54 4. Seattle, WA
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $54,004 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 1.05 5. Oyster Bay, NY
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,884 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Hempstead, NY
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,881 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Islip, NY
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,844 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Brookhaven, NY
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,802 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Denver, CO
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $43,896 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 1.40 10. Jersey City, NJ
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $48,867 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Choose from 10+ customizable law enforcement officer resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use law enforcement officer resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your law enforcement officer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for law enforcement officers
- Newark, NJ
- Buffalo, NY
- New York, NY
- Seattle, WA
- Oyster Bay, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- Islip, NY
- Brookhaven, NY
- Denver, CO
- Jersey City, NJ
- (3 law enforcement officer jobs)
- (2 law enforcement officer jobs)
- (12 law enforcement officer jobs)
- (6 law enforcement officer jobs)
- (0 law enforcement officer jobs)
- (0 law enforcement officer jobs)
- (0 law enforcement officer jobs)
- (0 law enforcement officer jobs)
- (8 law enforcement officer jobs)
- (0 law enforcement officer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a law enforcement officer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $48,876 | $36,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $50,698 | $38,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $49,904 | $36,000 | 8,537,673 | 12 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $54,004 | $41,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 5 | Oyster Bay, NY | $49,884 | $36,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 6 | Hempstead, NY | $49,881 | $36,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 7 | Islip, NY | $49,844 | $36,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 8 | Brookhaven, NY | $49,802 | $36,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $43,896 | $32,000 | 693,060 | 8 |
| 10 | Jersey City, NJ | $48,867 | $36,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $45,615 | $34,000 | 639,863 | 1 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $42,695 | $32,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $42,682 | $32,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $37,866 | $27,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 15 | Toledo, OH | $37,629 | $27,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $48,054 | $34,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 17 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,953 | $29,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 18 | Reno, NV | $41,531 | $30,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 19 | Aurora, CO | $43,862 | $32,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $36,012 | $26,000 | 860,090 | 6 |
| 21 | Colorado Springs, CO | $43,534 | $32,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 22 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,498 | $28,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $37,456 | $27,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 24 | North Las Vegas, NV | $39,846 | $28,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,918 | $29,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 26 | Henderson, NV | $39,783 | $28,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $38,225 | $28,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 28 | Omaha, NE | $35,458 | $26,000 | 446,970 | 14 |
| 29 | Oakland, CA | $47,981 | $34,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 30 | Chicago, IL | $41,164 | $30,000 | 2,704,958 | 5 |
| 31 | Fremont, CA | $47,886 | $34,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 32 | San Jose, CA | $47,824 | $34,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 33 | Anchorage, AK | $41,738 | $36,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 34 | Milwaukee, WI | $36,725 | $27,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 35 | Madison, WI | $36,544 | $27,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $47,625 | $34,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | Sacramento, CA | $47,508 | $34,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 38 | Albuquerque, NM | $37,472 | $27,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 39 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,646 | $26,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $37,675 | $27,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 41 | Cincinnati, OH | $35,016 | $25,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 42 | Phoenix, AZ | $37,656 | $27,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 43 | Scottsdale, AZ | $37,617 | $27,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 44 | Fresno, CA | $46,980 | $33,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 45 | Chandler, AZ | $37,527 | $27,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 46 | Mesa, AZ | $37,515 | $27,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 47 | Gilbert, AZ | $37,502 | $27,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 48 | Kansas City, MO | $33,133 | $24,000 | 481,420 | 10 |
| 49 | Memphis, TN | $31,191 | $23,000 | 652,717 | 14 |
| 50 | Long Beach, CA | $44,961 | $32,000 | 470,130 | - |
Highest paying cities for law enforcement officers
| Rank | City | Avg. law enforcement officer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $54,004 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $49,904 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $48,054 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $43,896 |
| 5 | Inver Grove Heights, MN | $42,584 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $41,878 |
| 7 | Wheaton, IL | $41,112 |
| 8 | Kahului, HI | $40,199 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $40,016 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $38,646 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $37,656 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $37,453 |
| 13 | Billings, MT | $37,286 |
| 14 | Fredericksburg, VA | $36,552 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $36,012 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | $35,458 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $34,158 |
| 18 | Pensacola, FL | $33,848 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $33,133 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $31,572 |
Law enforcement officer best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common protective service questions.
Search for law enforcement officer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025