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Lieutenant salary
Average lieutenant salary
$47,781
Understanding Lieutenant Salaries
As of October 2025, the average lieutenant salary is reported at $47,781 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location and years of experience. For instance, a lieutenant in metropolitan areas may command a higher salary due to the increased cost of living and demand for experienced personnel.
Salary by Experience Level
Experience plays a crucial role in salary determination. Typically, entry-level lieutenants may earn around $40,000, while those with 10 or more years of experience can see salaries climb to $60,000 or more.
Highest Paying States
States such as California, New York, and Texas are known for offering higher salaries to lieutenants, with some positions exceeding $70,000 annually. It's essential for aspiring lieutenants to consider these geographic factors when evaluating potential job opportunities.
Exploring Opportunities
Whether you are considering a career as a lieutenant or looking to advance in your current position, understanding salary trends can help you make informed decisions. Utilize resources like Zippia to compare salaries and find the best opportunities that match your career goals.
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Where can a Lieutenant earn more?
Lieutenant salaries by experience level
Lieutenant salary estimates from across the web
Average lieutenant salary by state
The highest-paying states for lieutenants are Colorado, Idaho, and Maine. The lowest average lieutenant salary states are Maryland, South Dakota, and Massachusetts.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for lieutenants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $64,522 | $31.02 |
| 2 | New York | $55,302 | $26.59 |
| 3 | Idaho | $59,725 | $28.71 |
| 4 | Maine | $57,879 | $27.83 |
| 5 | Ohio | $51,834 | $24.92 |
| 6 | Nevada | $48,275 | $23.21 |
| 7 | Texas | $47,415 | $22.80 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $51,618 | $24.82 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $51,171 | $24.60 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $48,461 | $23.30 |
| 11 | Illinois | $51,070 | $24.55 |
| 12 | Iowa | $48,318 | $23.23 |
| 13 | Kansas | $47,914 | $23.04 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $46,214 | $22.22 |
| 15 | California | $53,268 | $25.61 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $44,820 | $21.55 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $46,565 | $22.39 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $44,776 | $21.53 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $48,864 | $23.49 |
| 20 | Arizona | $44,906 | $21.59 |
| 21 | Delaware | $46,861 | $22.53 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $46,564 | $22.39 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $45,126 | $21.70 |
| 24 | Virginia | $44,106 | $21.20 |
| 25 | Oregon | $45,811 | $22.02 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $44,585 | $21.44 |
| 27 | Alabama | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $43,416 | $20.87 |
| 29 | Washington | $44,440 | $21.37 |
| 30 | Georgia | $44,615 | $21.45 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $44,891 | $21.58 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $42,775 | $20.56 |
| 33 | Missouri | $41,939 | $20.16 |
| 34 | Alaska | $42,713 | $20.54 |
| 35 | Utah | $43,045 | $20.69 |
| 36 | Florida | $43,799 | $21.06 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $42,342 | $20.36 |
| 38 | Indiana | $34,443 | $16.56 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $41,522 | $19.96 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $34,729 | $16.70 |
| 41 | Montana | $33,339 | $16.03 |
| 42 | Michigan | $35,626 | $17.13 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $34,759 | $16.71 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $32,194 | $15.48 |
| 45 | Maryland | $33,129 | $15.93 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $33,073 | $15.90 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $35,036 | $16.84 |
| 48 | Connecticut | $33,201 | $15.96 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $32,473 | $15.61 |
| 50 | Massachusetts | $32,917 | $15.83 |
| 51 | Vermont | $32,718 | $15.73 |
Highest paying cities for lieutenants
The highest-paying cities for lieutenants are Denver, CO, Bakersfield, CA, and Toms River, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | $64,563 | $31.04 |
| 2 | Bakersfield, CA | $53,493 | $25.72 |
| 3 | Toms River, NJ | $48,910 | $23.51 |
| 4 | Hobbs, NM | $48,117 | $23.13 |
| 5 | Del Rio, TX | $47,894 | $23.03 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $45,764 | $22.00 |
| 7 | Lawton, OK | $44,988 | $21.63 |
| 8 | Panama City, FL | $43,855 | $21.08 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $43,360 | $20.85 |
| 10 | Texarkana, AR | $34,897 | $16.78 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $32,934 | $15.83 |
| 12 | Columbia, SC | $32,192 | $15.48 |
Lieutenant salary details
A lieutenant's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $55,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a lieutenant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $47,781 | $3,982 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying lieutenant jobs
The highest paying types of lieutenants are deputy chief of staff, command master chief, and company first sergeant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Of Police | $77,582 | $6,465 | $37.30 | 69,344 |
| Platoon Sergeant | $95,863 | $7,989 | $46.09 | 357 |
| Staff Sergeant | $41,479 | $3,457 | $19.94 | 68,521 |
| Police Sergeant | $65,562 | $5,464 | $31.52 | 81,493 |
| Sergeant | $48,557 | $4,046 | $23.34 | 79,335 |
Which companies pay lieutenants the most?
Lieutenant salaries at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Stanford University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average lieutenant salary at companies like California State University, Fullerton and The Rockefeller University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | $69,472 | $33.40 |
| 2 | Stanford University | $60,984 | $29.32 |
| 3 | California State University, Fullerton | $55,215 | $26.55 |
| 4 | The Rockefeller University | $54,624 | $26.26 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley | $54,079 | $26.00 |
| 6 | Federal Reserve Bank | $53,377 | $25.66 |
| 7 | Alachua County | $52,915 | $25.44 |
| 8 | Fort Bend County | $52,688 | $25.33 |
| 9 | NANA | $51,896 | $24.95 |
| 10 | Broward Health | $51,836 | $24.92 |
| 11 | RWJBarnabas Health | $51,697 | $24.85 |
| 12 | Federal Reserve | $51,618 | $24.82 |
| 13 | Day & Zimmermann | $51,582 | $24.80 |
| 14 | My Florida Regional Mls | $51,277 | $24.65 |
| 15 | The GEO Group | $50,855 | $24.45 |
| 16 | paragon Co. | $50,835 | $24.44 |
| 17 | Colorado State Express | $50,835 | $24.44 |
| 18 | Pico de Gallo | $50,821 | $24.43 |
| 19 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | $49,700 | $23.89 |
| 20 | Management & Training | $49,106 | $23.61 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Lieutenant salary by industry
The average lieutenant salary varies across industries:
- The average lieutenant salary in the technology industry is $50,849, the highest of any industry.
- The average lieutenant salary in the finance industry is $49,801.
- Lieutenants in the professional industry earn an average salary of $48,999, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for lieutenants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $50,849 | $24.45 |
| 2 | Utilities | $49,801 | $23.94 |
| 3 | Government | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| 4 | Professional | $48,999 | $23.56 |
High paying lieutenant jobs
Lieutenant salary trends
The average lieutenant salary has risen by $7,750 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average lieutenant earned $40,031 annually, but today, they earn $47,781 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for lieutenants over the last decade.
Compare lieutenant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average lieutenant salary over time
Compare lieutenant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Lieutenant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,800 | $22.97 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $46,800 | $22.51 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $45,800 | $22.00 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $45,200 | $21.72 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $43,600 | $20.96 | +3.2% |
Recently added lieutenant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | Lieutenant | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $121,317 |
| Pico de Gallo | Lieutenant | Henderson, TX | 06/29/2025 | $50,088 |
| Federal Reserve Bank | Lieutenant | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $77,800 |
| MTC | Lieutenant | Panama City, FL | 06/27/2025 | $59,480 |
| State of Arizona | ECD Full Authority Lieutenant | Phoenix, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $83,049 |
| Arizona Department of Administration | ECD Full Authority Lieutenant | Phoenix, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $83,049 |
| Amentum | Security Lieutenant | Las Vegas, NV | 06/27/2025 | $110,000 |
| Eagle Mountain Casino | Security Lieutenant | Porterville, CA | 06/26/2025 | $57,393 |
| Paragon | Lieutenant | Edwardsville, IL | 06/21/2025 | $92,553 |
| Spring Independent School District | Lieutenant | Houston, TX | 06/18/2025 | $77,998 |
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