Best states for a law enforcement officer

Q: What is the best state for law enforcement officers?

The best state to be a law enforcement officer is North Dakota based on law enforcement officer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for law enforcement officers?

The highest paying state for law enforcement officers is Louisiana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for law enforcement officers?

The worst state for law enforcement officers is Kansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming a law enforcement officer and really want to work at U.s. Coast Guard? Turns out, your chances to become a law enforcement officer are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for law enforcement officers. We found that North Dakota is the best state in the nation for law enforcement officers, and people in Bellingham earn the most in the field.

North Dakota is the best state for jobs for law enforcement officers, and Kansas is the worst. The most common pay in North Dakota is $52,856, while the median pay in Kansas is $28,697.If you are currently seeking employment as a law enforcement officer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for law enforcement officers in 2026

1. North Dakota
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 136
Average annual salary: $52,856
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
1.03
Law enforcement officer jobs in North Dakota
2. New York
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 2,008
Average annual salary: $49,897
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Law enforcement officer jobs in New York
3. Connecticut
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 491
Average annual salary: $48,786
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Law enforcement officer jobs in Connecticut
4. Mississippi
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 356
Average annual salary: $43,417
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Law enforcement officer jobs in Mississippi
5. New Jersey
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 1,196
Average annual salary: $48,735
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Law enforcement officer jobs in New Jersey
6. Washington
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 973
Average annual salary: $53,626
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Law enforcement officer jobs in Washington
7. Minnesota
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 1,214
Average annual salary: $42,625
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Law enforcement officer jobs in Minnesota
8. Colorado
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 998
Average annual salary: $43,828
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Law enforcement officer jobs in Colorado
9. Nevada
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 369
Average annual salary: $40,190
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Law enforcement officer jobs in Nevada
10. California
Total law enforcement officer jobs: 4,618
Average annual salary: $45,797
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Law enforcement officer jobs in California

Law enforcement officer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a law enforcement officer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a law enforcement officer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	North Dakota	$52,856	$40,000	755,393	136
2	New York	$49,897	$36,000	19,849,399	2,008
3	Connecticut	$48,786	$36,000	3,588,184	491
4	Mississippi	$43,417	$32,000	2,984,100	356
5	New Jersey	$48,735	$35,000	9,005,644	1,196
6	Washington	$53,626	$40,000	7,405,743	973
7	Minnesota	$42,625	$32,000	5,576,606	1,214
8	Colorado	$43,828	$32,000	5,607,154	998
9	Nevada	$40,190	$29,000	2,998,039	369
10	California	$45,797	$33,000	39,536,653	4,618
11	Illinois	$40,951	$30,000	12,802,023	1,801
12	Rhode Island	$40,344	$30,000	1,059,639	180
13	Oregon	$45,482	$34,000	4,142,776	481
14	Iowa	$40,949	$30,000	3,145,711	478
15	Massachusetts	$40,141	$31,000	6,859,819	1,631
16	New Hampshire	$41,367	$32,000	1,342,795	223
17	West Virginia	$39,692	$29,000	1,815,857	185
18	Arizona	$37,488	$27,000	7,016,270	998
19	Indiana	$38,861	$28,000	6,666,818	835
20	Michigan	$38,289	$28,000	9,962,311	1,029
21	Hawaii	$40,421	$34,000	1,427,538	141
22	New Mexico	$37,268	$27,000	2,088,070	284
23	Alaska	$41,574	$35,000	739,795	103
24	Wyoming	$39,697	$29,000	579,315	46
25	Idaho	$35,015	$26,000	1,716,943	357
26	Maryland	$37,248	$27,000	6,052,177	1,141
27	Pennsylvania	$37,383	$27,000	12,805,537	1,443
28	Wisconsin	$36,864	$27,000	5,795,483	740
29	Vermont	$38,076	$30,000	623,657	99
30	District of Columbia	$41,842	$30,000	693,972	194
31	Utah	$38,623	$28,000	3,101,833	307
32	Virginia	$36,123	$26,000	8,470,020	1,582
33	Delaware	$37,113	$27,000	961,939	168
34	Maine	$34,826	$28,000	1,335,907	190
35	Nebraska	$35,415	$26,000	1,920,076	306
36	Montana	$37,757	$28,000	1,050,493	127
37	Ohio	$36,595	$26,000	11,658,609	1,160
38	Alabama	$32,468	$24,000	4,874,747	629
39	Missouri	$32,938	$24,000	6,113,532	827
40	Florida	$33,407	$24,000	20,984,400	2,181
41	Texas	$34,147	$25,000	28,304,596	2,331
42	Georgia	$30,138	$22,000	10,429,379	1,525
43	South Dakota	$32,539	$24,000	869,666	113
44	North Carolina	$31,351	$23,000	10,273,419	1,218
45	Kentucky	$29,985	$22,000	4,454,189	470
46	Oklahoma	$30,541	$22,000	3,930,864	372
47	Tennessee	$31,360	$23,000	6,715,984	615
48	Louisiana	$26,814	$19,000	4,684,333	434
49	Arkansas	$28,651	$21,000	3,004,279	326
50	South Carolina	$29,487	$22,000	5,024,369	522
51	Kansas	$28,697	$21,000	2,913,123	324

Highest paying states for law enforcement officers

Rank	State	Avg. Law Enforcement Officer Salary
1	North Dakota	$52,856
2	New York	$49,897
3	Connecticut	$48,786
4	Mississippi	$43,417
5	New Jersey	$48,735
6	Washington	$53,626
7	Minnesota	$42,625
8	Colorado	$43,828
9	Nevada	$40,190
10	California	$45,797
11	Illinois	$40,951
12	Rhode Island	$40,344
13	Oregon	$45,482
14	Iowa	$40,949
15	Massachusetts	$40,141
16	New Hampshire	$41,367
17	West Virginia	$39,692
18	Arizona	$37,488
19	Indiana	$38,861
20	Michigan	$38,289
21	Hawaii	$40,421
22	New Mexico	$37,268
23	Alaska	$41,574
24	Wyoming	$39,697
25	Idaho	$35,015
26	Maryland	$37,248
27	Pennsylvania	$37,383
28	Wisconsin	$36,864
29	Vermont	$38,076
30	District of Columbia	$41,842
31	Utah	$38,623
32	Virginia	$36,123
33	Delaware	$37,113
34	Maine	$34,826
35	Nebraska	$35,415
36	Montana	$37,757
37	Ohio	$36,595
38	Alabama	$32,468
39	Missouri	$32,938
40	Florida	$33,407
41	Texas	$34,147
42	Georgia	$30,138
43	South Dakota	$32,539
44	North Carolina	$31,351
45	Kentucky	$29,985
46	Oklahoma	$30,541
47	Tennessee	$31,360
48	Louisiana	$26,814
49	Arkansas	$28,651
50	South Carolina	$29,487
51	Kansas	$28,697

Law enforcement officer best states FAQs

What is the best state for law enforcement officers?

What is the highest paying state for law enforcement officers?

What is the worst state for law enforcement officers?

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Best states for Law Enforcement Officers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total law enforcement officer jobs:	136
Average annual salary:	$52,856
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$40,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$68,000
Location Quotient:	1.03

Best states for a law enforcement officer

10 best states for law enforcement officers in 2026

1. North Dakota

2. New York

3. Connecticut

4. Mississippi

5. New Jersey

6. Washington

7. Minnesota

8. Colorado

9. Nevada

10. California