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Patrol officer salary
Average patrol officer salary
$35,621
Average Patrol Officer Salary
In the United States, the average salary for a patrol officer is approximately $35,621 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities. For instance, patrol officers in metropolitan areas often earn more than those in rural settings.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level patrol officers typically start with lower salaries, while those with several years of experience may command significantly higher pay. Moreover, specialized roles, such as K-9 units or detectives, can lead to increased earnings.
Highest Paying States
Patrol officers in states like California, New York, and Washington often see higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for law enforcement services. This information can guide job seekers in making strategic career choices.
Conclusion
Understanding the patrol officer salary landscape is crucial for prospective candidates. With various factors influencing earnings, exploring job opportunities tailored to your experience and location can lead to a fulfilling career in law enforcement.
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Where can a Patrol Officer earn more?
Patrol officer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level patrol officer | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Mid-level patrol officer | $37,200 | $17.86 |
| Senior-level patrol officer | $45,200 | $21.72 |
Patrol officer salary estimates from across the web
Average patrol officer salary by state
The highest-paying states for patrol officers are North Dakota, Washington, and Connecticut. The lowest average patrol officer salary states are Georgia, Nebraska, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for patrol officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $50,862 | $24.45 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $46,312 | $22.27 |
| 3 | Washington | $46,753 | $22.48 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $45,580 | $21.91 |
| 5 | Mississippi | $38,272 | $18.40 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $39,343 | $18.91 |
| 7 | Maine | $41,127 | $19.77 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $42,433 | $20.40 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $40,965 | $19.69 |
| 10 | Oregon | $43,210 | $20.77 |
| 11 | Vermont | $37,962 | $18.25 |
| 12 | New York | $39,140 | $18.82 |
| 13 | Montana | $42,384 | $20.38 |
| 14 | California | $37,995 | $18.27 |
| 15 | Colorado | $35,911 | $17.26 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $35,506 | $17.07 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $35,424 | $17.03 |
| 18 | Alaska | $40,667 | $19.55 |
| 19 | Nevada | $33,244 | $15.98 |
| 20 | Illinois | $36,301 | $17.45 |
| 21 | Idaho | $31,687 | $15.23 |
| 22 | Delaware | $33,566 | $16.14 |
| 23 | Maryland | $33,643 | $16.17 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $33,519 | $16.11 |
| 25 | Virginia | $33,526 | $16.12 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $33,888 | $16.29 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $35,301 | $16.97 |
| 28 | Indiana | $34,489 | $16.58 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $33,058 | $15.89 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $33,672 | $16.19 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $31,332 | $15.06 |
| 32 | Arizona | $30,227 | $14.53 |
| 33 | Utah | $33,269 | $15.99 |
| 34 | Alabama | $28,844 | $13.87 |
| 35 | Ohio | $32,187 | $15.47 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $31,669 | $15.23 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $29,589 | $14.23 |
| 38 | Florida | $28,056 | $13.49 |
| 39 | Texas | $31,342 | $15.07 |
| 40 | Michigan | $31,882 | $15.33 |
| 41 | Iowa | $28,796 | $13.84 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $33,337 | $16.03 |
| 43 | Missouri | $28,642 | $13.77 |
| 44 | Georgia | $27,015 | $12.99 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $28,361 | $13.64 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $26,704 | $12.84 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $28,089 | $13.50 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $23,613 | $11.35 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $24,939 | $11.99 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $22,327 | $10.73 |
| 51 | Kansas | $24,693 | $11.87 |
Highest paying cities for patrol officers
The highest-paying cities for patrol officers are Seattle, WA, Saint Cloud, MN, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $46,993 | $22.59 |
| 2 | Saint Cloud, MN | $46,437 | $22.33 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $43,624 | $20.97 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | $42,498 | $20.43 |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $40,739 | $19.59 |
| 6 | Albany, NY | $40,502 | $19.47 |
| 7 | Milpitas, CA | $40,298 | $19.37 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $36,544 | $17.57 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $35,942 | $17.28 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $34,023 | $16.36 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $33,939 | $16.32 |
| 12 | Wilmington, DE | $33,814 | $16.26 |
| 13 | Provo, UT | $33,061 | $15.89 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,810 | $15.77 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $31,575 | $15.18 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $31,462 | $15.13 |
| 17 | Tempe, AZ | $30,232 | $14.53 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $28,667 | $13.78 |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $28,360 | $13.63 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $28,103 | $13.51 |
Patrol officer salary details
A patrol officer's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a patrol officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $35,621 | $2,968 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying patrol officer jobs
The highest paying types of patrol officers are first officer, detective, and criminal investigator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss Prevention Analyst | $38,684 | $3,224 | $18.60 | 62,658 |
| Criminal Investigator | $54,520 | $4,543 | $26.21 | 5,131 |
| Detective | $57,984 | $4,832 | $27.88 | 56,521 |
| Loss Prevention Agent | $36,455 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 103,534 |
| Police Cadet | $33,243 | $2,770 | $15.98 | 94,220 |
| Community Services Officer | $38,039 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 181,257 |
Top companies hiring patrol officers now:
Which companies pay patrol officers the most?
Patrol officer salaries at Mount St. Mary's University and Dartmouth are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average patrol officer salary at companies like Valparaiso University and Georgetown University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount St. Mary's University | $51,326 | $24.68 |
| 2 | Dartmouth | $47,574 | $22.87 |
| 3 | Valparaiso University | $47,371 | $22.77 |
| 4 | Georgetown University | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| 5 | Stearns County MN | $44,902 | $21.59 |
| 6 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $44,850 | $21.56 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $44,428 | $21.36 |
| 8 | State of Connecticut | $43,498 | $20.91 |
| 9 | Denver Public Schools | $43,433 | $20.88 |
| 10 | City of Gulfport | $42,969 | $20.66 |
| 11 | Brown County | $42,288 | $20.33 |
| 12 | Outagamie County | $42,284 | $20.33 |
| 13 | Reef | $42,092 | $20.24 |
| 14 | City of St. Clair Shores | $42,030 | $20.21 |
| 15 | University of Michigan | $41,995 | $20.19 |
| 16 | Baystate Health | $41,994 | $20.19 |
| 17 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | $41,935 | $20.16 |
| 18 | College of the Holy Cross | $41,735 | $20.06 |
| 19 | City of Garden City | $41,560 | $19.98 |
| 20 | City of Abilene Texas | $41,534 | $19.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Patrol officer salary trends
The average patrol officer salary has risen by $6,147 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average patrol officer earned $29,474 annually, but today, they earn $35,621 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for patrol officers over the last decade.
Compare patrol officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average patrol officer salary over time
Compare patrol officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Patrol officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,600 | $17.13 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $34,300 | $16.50 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $33,400 | $16.04 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $33,200 | $15.95 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $32,400 | $15.59 | +2.3% |
Recently added patrol officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securitas Electronic Security | Patrol Officer | Las Vegas, NV | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. | Patrol Officer | Las Vegas, NV | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Muckleshoot Casino Resort | Bike Patrol Officer | Auburn, WA | 06/28/2025 | $51,173 |
| Securitas Inc. | Patrol Officer | Las Vegas, NV | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Phoenix Protective Corp | Armed/Unarmed Patrol Officer (Operations) | Spokane, WA | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| Tishman Speyer | Seasonal Patrol Officer | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Emergency Response Patrol Officer-Pg&E | Stockton, CA | 06/26/2025 | $65,741 |
| Northeast Security, Inc. | Weekend Vehicle Patrol Officer | Hingham, MA | 06/24/2025 | $42,157 |
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Patrol Officer-Coverage | Lynnwood, WA | 06/24/2025 | $53,323 |
| Inner Parish Security Corporation | Armed Indoor Patrol Officer (Security) | Tampa, FL | 06/21/2025 | $37,566 |
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