Best cities for a patrol officer

The best cities for patrol officers are Anchorage, AK, Las Vegas, NV, and Portland, OR, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for patrol officers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for patrol officers in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as a patrol officer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for patrol officers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for patrol officers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a patrol officer. While the absolute best city for patrol officers is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for patrol officers in 2024.

If you're looking for a patrol officer job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for patrol officers in 2025

1. Anchorage, AK

Total patrol officer jobs:	13
Average annual salary:	$40,739
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$35,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$46,000
Location quotient:	19.40

2. Las Vegas, NV

Total patrol officer jobs:	24
Average annual salary:	$32,810
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$24,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$44,000
Location quotient:	7.70

3. Portland, OR

Total patrol officer jobs:	14
Average annual salary:	$43,624
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$33,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$56,000
Location quotient:	3.11

4. Indianapolis, IN

Total patrol officer jobs:	16
Average annual salary:	$34,023
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$25,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$45,000
Location quotient:	3.07

5. Stockton, CA

Total patrol officer jobs:	4
Average annual salary:	$39,995
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$29,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$54,000
Location quotient:	8.51

6. Denver, CO

Total patrol officer jobs:	49
Average annual salary:	$35,942
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$27,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$47,000
Location quotient:	4.38

7. Seattle, WA

Total patrol officer jobs:	16
Average annual salary:	$46,993
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$37,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$59,000
Location quotient:	1.43

8. Columbus, OH

Total patrol officer jobs:	8
Average annual salary:	$31,575
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$23,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$42,000
Location quotient:	1.36

9. Cleveland, OH

Total patrol officer jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$33,539
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$24,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$45,000
Location quotient:	0.95

10. Boston, MA

Total patrol officer jobs:	12
Average annual salary:	$42,487
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$32,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$55,000
Location quotient:	1.27

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Best cities for patrol officers

Anchorage, AK
Las Vegas, NV
Portland, OR
Indianapolis, IN
Stockton, CA
Denver, CO
Seattle, WA
Columbus, OH
Cleveland, OH
Boston, MA

(13 patrol officer jobs)
(24 patrol officer jobs)
(14 patrol officer jobs)
(16 patrol officer jobs)
(4 patrol officer jobs)
(49 patrol officer jobs)
(16 patrol officer jobs)
(8 patrol officer jobs)
(2 patrol officer jobs)
(12 patrol officer jobs)

Detailed list of the best cities for a patrol officer

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Anchorage, AK	$40,739	$35,000	298,192	13
2	Las Vegas, NV	$32,810	$24,000	632,912	24
3	Portland, OR	$43,624	$33,000	639,863	14
4	Indianapolis, IN	$34,023	$25,000	855,164	16
5	Stockton, CA	$39,995	$29,000	307,072	4
6	Denver, CO	$35,942	$27,000	693,060	49
7	Seattle, WA	$46,993	$37,000	704,352	16
8	Columbus, OH	$31,575	$23,000	860,090	8
9	Cleveland, OH	$33,539	$24,000	385,809	2
10	Boston, MA	$42,487	$32,000	673,184	12
11	Chicago, IL	$36,544	$27,000	2,704,958	15
12	Philadelphia, PA	$33,939	$24,000	1,567,872	6
13	Fort Worth, TX	$31,255	$23,000	854,113	8
14	Minneapolis, MN	$45,609	$35,000	413,651	4
15	Fresno, CA	$38,665	$28,000	522,053	4
16	Saint Paul, MN	$45,584	$35,000	302,398	2
17	Reno, NV	$35,475	$26,000	245,255	1
18	Dallas, TX	$31,246	$23,000	1,317,929	25
19	Sacramento, CA	$40,178	$29,000	495,234	6
20	Milwaukee, WI	$35,225	$26,000	595,047	2
21	San Antonio, TX	$31,427	$23,000	1,492,510	6
22	Anaheim, CA	$36,913	$27,000	351,043	3
23	Los Angeles, CA	$37,129	$27,000	3,976,322	40
24	Long Beach, CA	$37,005	$27,000	470,130	3
25	Toledo, OH	$33,285	$24,000	278,508	-
26	Riverside, CA	$36,718	$27,000	324,722	3
27	Fort Wayne, IN	$35,903	$26,000	264,488	-
28	Austin, TX	$31,462	$23,000	947,890	9
29	Pittsburgh, PA	$32,825	$24,000	303,625	-
30	Detroit, MI	$31,806	$23,000	672,795	1
31	Madison, WI	$34,950	$26,000	252,551	-
32	Buffalo, NY	$40,198	$29,000	256,902	-
33	San Jose, CA	$40,205	$29,000	1,025,350	8
34	Winston-Salem, NC	$28,103	$20,000	242,203	5
35	Brookhaven, NY	$39,412	$28,000	486,040	-
36	Cincinnati, OH	$30,374	$22,000	298,800	2
37	Oyster Bay, NY	$39,206	$28,000	293,214	-
38	Islip, NY	$39,206	$28,000	335,543	-
39	New York, NY	$38,929	$28,000	8,537,673	12
40	North Las Vegas, NV	$32,758	$24,000	238,702	-
41	Hempstead, NY	$38,999	$28,000	759,757	-
42	Henderson, NV	$32,705	$24,000	292,969	-
43	San Francisco, CA	$40,743	$30,000	870,887	6
44	Santa Ana, CA	$36,884	$27,000	334,217	1
45	Kansas City, MO	$28,667	$21,000	481,420	23
46	Oakland, CA	$40,591	$29,000	420,005	-
47	El Paso, TX	$31,846	$23,000	683,080	-
48	Houston, TX	$31,435	$23,000	2,303,482	4
49	Fremont, CA	$40,342	$29,000	233,136	-
50	Aurora, CO	$35,896	$27,000	361,710	-

Highest paying cities for patrol officers

Rank	City	Avg. patrol officer salary
1	Seattle, WA	$46,993
2	Saint Cloud, MN	$46,437
3	Portland, OR	$43,624
4	Cambridge, MA	$42,498
5	Anchorage, AK	$40,739
6	Albany, NY	$40,502
7	Milpitas, CA	$40,298
8	Chicago, IL	$36,544
9	Denver, CO	$35,942
10	Indianapolis, IN	$34,023
11	Philadelphia, PA	$33,939
12	Wilmington, DE	$33,814
13	Provo, UT	$33,061
14	Las Vegas, NV	$32,810
15	Columbus, OH	$31,575
16	Austin, TX	$31,462
17	Tempe, AZ	$30,232
18	Kansas City, MO	$28,667
19	Durham, NC	$28,360
20	Miami, FL	$28,103