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Law enforcement officer salary
Average law enforcement officer salary
$39,219
Average Law Enforcement Officer Salary
The average salary for a law enforcement officer in the United States is approximately $39,219 per year, or $19 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on a range of factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and specific job roles within law enforcement.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start lower, while experienced officers can earn considerably more. For instance, officers with five to ten years of experience often see a salary increase, reflecting their expertise and contributions.
Where Can Law Enforcement Officers Earn More?
States such as California and New York tend to offer higher salaries for law enforcement officers due to the cost of living and demand for services. Additionally, specialized roles, such as detectives or federal agents, often command higher wages.
Job Opportunities
Various positions in law enforcement sectors, including policing, federal agencies, and security roles, provide numerous opportunities for career advancement. Understanding these salary dynamics is essential for anyone looking to pursue a fulfilling career in this field.
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Where can a Law Enforcement Officer earn more?
Law enforcement officer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level law enforcement officer | $30,900 | $14.87 |
| Mid-level law enforcement officer | $40,900 | $19.67 |
| Senior-level law enforcement officer | $49,700 | $23.91 |
Law enforcement officer salary estimates from across the web
Average law enforcement officer salary by state
The highest-paying states for law enforcement officers are Washington, North Dakota, and New York. The lowest average law enforcement officer salary states are Georgia, Kentucky, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for law enforcement officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $52,856 | $25.41 |
| 2 | New York | $49,897 | $23.99 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $48,786 | $23.45 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $43,417 | $20.87 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $48,735 | $23.43 |
| 6 | Washington | $53,626 | $25.78 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $42,625 | $20.49 |
| 8 | Colorado | $43,828 | $21.07 |
| 9 | Nevada | $40,190 | $19.32 |
| 10 | California | $45,797 | $22.02 |
| 11 | Illinois | $40,951 | $19.69 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $40,344 | $19.40 |
| 13 | Oregon | $45,482 | $21.87 |
| 14 | Iowa | $40,949 | $19.69 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $40,141 | $19.30 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $41,367 | $19.89 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $39,692 | $19.08 |
| 18 | Arizona | $37,488 | $18.02 |
| 19 | Indiana | $38,861 | $18.68 |
| 20 | Michigan | $38,289 | $18.41 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $40,421 | $19.43 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $37,268 | $17.92 |
| 23 | Alaska | $41,574 | $19.99 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $39,697 | $19.09 |
| 25 | Idaho | $35,015 | $16.83 |
| 26 | Maryland | $37,248 | $17.91 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $37,383 | $17.97 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $36,864 | $17.72 |
| 29 | Vermont | $38,076 | $18.31 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $41,842 | $20.12 |
| 31 | Utah | $38,623 | $18.57 |
| 32 | Virginia | $36,123 | $17.37 |
| 33 | Delaware | $37,113 | $17.84 |
| 34 | Maine | $34,826 | $16.74 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $35,415 | $17.03 |
| 36 | Montana | $37,757 | $18.15 |
| 37 | Ohio | $36,595 | $17.59 |
| 38 | Alabama | $32,468 | $15.61 |
| 39 | Missouri | $32,938 | $15.84 |
| 40 | Florida | $33,407 | $16.06 |
| 41 | Texas | $34,147 | $16.42 |
| 42 | Georgia | $30,138 | $14.49 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $32,539 | $15.64 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $31,351 | $15.07 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $29,985 | $14.42 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $30,541 | $14.68 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $31,360 | $15.08 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $26,814 | $12.89 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $28,651 | $13.77 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $29,487 | $14.18 |
| 51 | Kansas | $28,697 | $13.80 |
Highest paying cities for law enforcement officers
The highest-paying cities for law enforcement officers are Seattle, WA, New York, NY, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $54,004 | $25.96 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $49,904 | $23.99 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $48,054 | $23.10 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $43,896 | $21.10 |
| 5 | Inver Grove Heights, MN | $42,584 | $20.47 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $41,878 | $20.13 |
| 7 | Wheaton, IL | $41,112 | $19.77 |
| 8 | Kahului, HI | $40,199 | $19.33 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $40,016 | $19.24 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $38,646 | $18.58 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $37,656 | $18.10 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $37,453 | $18.01 |
| 13 | Billings, MT | $37,286 | $17.93 |
| 14 | Fredericksburg, VA | $36,552 | $17.57 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $36,012 | $17.31 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | $35,458 | $17.05 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $34,158 | $16.42 |
| 18 | Pensacola, FL | $33,848 | $16.27 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $33,133 | $15.93 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $31,572 | $15.18 |
Law enforcement officer salary details
A law enforcement officer's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $50,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a law enforcement officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $39,219 | $3,268 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying law enforcement officer jobs
The highest paying types of law enforcement officers are first officer, detective, and criminal investigator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detective | $57,984 | $4,832 | $27.88 | 56,521 |
| Deputy | $53,682 | $4,473 | $25.81 | 56,150 |
| Criminal Investigator | $54,520 | $4,543 | $26.21 | 5,131 |
| Police Cadet | $33,243 | $2,770 | $15.98 | 94,220 |
| Loss Prevention Analyst | $38,684 | $3,224 | $18.60 | 62,658 |
| Loss Prevention Agent | $36,455 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 103,534 |
Top companies hiring law enforcement officers now:
Which companies pay law enforcement officers the most?
Law enforcement officer salaries at University of Nebraska System and Saint Luke's Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average law enforcement officer salary at companies like Medical University of South Carolina and Delaware State Government are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Nebraska System | $47,733 | $22.95 |
| 2 | Saint Luke's Health System | $44,646 | $21.46 |
| 3 | Medical University of South Carolina | $44,260 | $21.28 |
| 4 | Delaware State Government | $43,772 | $21.04 |
| 5 | Gavin de Becker & Associates | $43,557 | $20.94 |
| 6 | Foxwoods Resort Casino | $42,402 | $20.39 |
| 7 | Federal Reserve Bank | $42,344 | $20.36 |
| 8 | San Diego Humane Society | $41,072 | $19.75 |
| 9 | City of Durham | $40,883 | $19.66 |
| 10 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | $40,773 | $19.60 |
| 11 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $40,473 | $19.46 |
| 12 | CITY OF PLEASANTVILLE | $40,124 | $19.29 |
| 13 | American Security | $39,473 | $18.98 |
| 14 | Florida Gulf Coast University | $39,414 | $18.95 |
| 15 | Allied Universal | $39,325 | $18.91 |
| 16 | G4s Secure Solutions International Inc. | $39,290 | $18.89 |
| 17 | MSSG | $38,826 | $18.67 |
| 18 | G4S | $38,571 | $18.54 |
| 19 | Metro One LPSG | $38,487 | $18.50 |
| 20 | State Of South Dakota | $38,436 | $18.48 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Law enforcement officer salary trends
The average law enforcement officer salary has risen by $6,768 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average law enforcement officer earned $32,451 annually, but today, they earn $39,219 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for law enforcement officers over the last decade.
Compare law enforcement officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average law enforcement officer salary over time
Compare law enforcement officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Law enforcement officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,200 | $18.86 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $37,800 | $18.17 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $36,700 | $17.66 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $36,500 | $17.56 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $35,700 | $17.17 | +2.3% |
Recently added law enforcement officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Extra-Help Public Safety Law Enforcement Officers | Bono, AR | 06/30/2025 | $52,175 |
| Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco | Law Enforcement Police Officer | Baltimore, MD | 06/30/2025 | $48,800 |
| Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco | Law Enforcement Officer | Minneapolis, MN | 06/30/2025 | $60,000 |
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Law Enforcement Officer-Armed Security Airport | Urban Honolulu, HI | 06/29/2025 | $60,231 |
| Onondaga Community College | Campus Law Enforcement/Peace Officer-Onondaga Community College | Syracuse, NY | 06/27/2025 | $55,337 |
| City of San Bernardino, Ca | Law Enforcement Trainee (Police Officer Trainee) | San Bernardino, CA | 06/26/2025 | $72,565 |
| State of Virginia | Law Enforcement Officer | Martinsville, VA | 06/26/2025 | $33,392 |
| State of Florida | Law Enforcement Officer | Tallahassee, FL | 06/23/2025 | $54,075 |
| Titan Security Group | Off-Duty Law Enforcement Officer (Active or Former) | Chicago, IL | 06/21/2025 | $83,480 |
| St. Moritz Security Service | Armed Security-Retired/Active Law Enforcement | Succasunna, NJ | 06/20/2025 | $56,349 |
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