Best cities for a public safety officer
The best cities for public safety officers are Saint Paul, MN, Buffalo, NY, and Fort Wayne, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for public safety officers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for public safety officers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a public safety officer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for public safety officers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for public safety officers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a public safety officer. While the absolute best city for public safety officers is Saint Paul, MN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for public safety officers in 2024.
If you're looking for a public safety officer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for public safety officers in 2026
1. Saint Paul, MN
Total public safety officer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $41,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 2.97 2. Buffalo, NY
Total public safety officer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $47,139 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 1.86 3. Fort Wayne, IN
Total public safety officer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $39,081 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 1.64 4. North Las Vegas, NV
Total public safety officer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $37,830 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location quotient: 4.35 5. Portland, OR
Total public safety officer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $42,797 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 1.12 6. Milwaukee, WI
Total public safety officer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $35,172 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 1.93 7. Bakersfield, CA
Total public safety officer jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $44,032 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location quotient: 25.25 8. Cleveland, OH
Total public safety officer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $36,619 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 0.90 9. Reno, NV
Total public safety officer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $38,855 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 1.26 10. Minneapolis, MN
Total public safety officer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $41,267 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 0.76
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Best cities for public safety officers
- Saint Paul, MN
- Buffalo, NY
- Fort Wayne, IN
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Portland, OR
- Milwaukee, WI
- Bakersfield, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- Reno, NV
- Minneapolis, MN
- (12 public safety officer jobs)
- (4 public safety officer jobs)
- (2 public safety officer jobs)
- (1 public safety officer jobs)
- (8 public safety officer jobs)
- (8 public safety officer jobs)
- (24 public safety officer jobs)
- (3 public safety officer jobs)
- (2 public safety officer jobs)
- (6 public safety officer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a public safety officer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,255 | $33,000 | 302,398 | 12 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $47,139 | $36,000 | 256,902 | 4 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,081 | $31,000 | 264,488 | 2 |
| 4 | North Las Vegas, NV | $37,830 | $29,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $42,797 | $34,000 | 639,863 | 8 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $35,172 | $28,000 | 595,047 | 8 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $44,032 | $34,000 | 376,380 | 24 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $36,619 | $28,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $38,855 | $30,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,267 | $33,000 | 413,651 | 6 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $37,872 | $29,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $44,441 | $34,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $36,761 | $29,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 14 | Glendale, AZ | $36,739 | $28,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 15 | Tucson, AZ | $36,498 | $28,000 | 530,706 | 5 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,238 | $30,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $34,789 | $27,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 18 | Oakland, CA | $45,246 | $34,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,518 | $27,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $43,448 | $35,000 | 693,060 | 10 |
| 21 | Chula Vista, CA | $43,358 | $33,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $39,026 | $31,000 | 2,704,958 | 24 |
| 23 | Anaheim, CA | $43,624 | $33,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,742 | $27,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 25 | Brookhaven, NY | $46,598 | $36,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 26 | Seattle, WA | $46,515 | $37,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 27 | Oyster Bay, NY | $46,566 | $36,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 28 | New York, NY | $46,480 | $35,000 | 8,537,673 | 10 |
| 29 | Islip, NY | $46,547 | $36,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 30 | Hempstead, NY | $46,494 | $36,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 31 | Toledo, OH | $36,385 | $28,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 32 | Columbus, OH | $35,459 | $28,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 33 | Colorado Springs, CO | $43,220 | $34,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 34 | Boston, MA | $39,838 | $31,000 | 673,184 | 23 |
| 35 | Irvine, CA | $43,576 | $33,000 | 266,122 | 8 |
| 36 | Aurora, CO | $43,428 | $35,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 37 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,725 | $28,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 38 | Durham, NC | $31,065 | $24,000 | 263,016 | 13 |
| 39 | San Francisco, CA | $45,322 | $34,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 40 | Henderson, NV | $37,833 | $29,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 41 | Raleigh, NC | $30,995 | $24,000 | 458,880 | 19 |
| 42 | Winston-Salem, NC | $30,998 | $24,000 | 242,203 | 3 |
| 43 | Fremont, CA | $45,162 | $34,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 44 | Santa Ana, CA | $43,604 | $33,000 | 334,217 | 1 |
| 45 | San Jose, CA | $45,126 | $34,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 46 | Stockton, CA | $44,881 | $34,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 47 | Sacramento, CA | $44,786 | $34,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 48 | Albuquerque, NM | $36,972 | $29,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 49 | Madison, WI | $35,076 | $28,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 50 | Lexington, KY | $29,882 | $23,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for public safety officers
| Rank | City | Avg. public safety officer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Britain, CT | $48,168 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $46,480 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $44,032 |
| 4 | Fort Collins, CO | $43,704 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $42,513 |
| 6 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,255 |
| 7 | Cedar Falls, IA | $40,743 |
| 8 | Woonsocket, RI | $40,447 |
| 9 | Springfield, MA | $39,863 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,081 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $39,026 |
| 12 | Allentown, PA | $36,761 |
| 13 | Glendale, AZ | $36,739 |
| 14 | Grand Rapids, MI | $36,659 |
| 15 | Newark, DE | $36,298 |
| 16 | Passaic, NJ | $35,712 |
| 17 | Kenosha, WI | $34,927 |
| 18 | Galveston, TX | $33,550 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $33,223 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $31,297 |
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Updated January 8, 2025