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Sheriff salary
Average sheriff salary
$46,053
Understanding Sheriff Salaries
The average salary for a sheriff in the United States stands at $46,053 annually. However, this figure can fluctuate based on various factors. For instance, sheriffs in high-demand areas or those with extensive experience may earn significantly more.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start lower, with salaries rising as experience grows. For example, sheriffs with 5-10 years of experience may earn around $50,000, while those with over 20 years can make upwards of $60,000.
Highest Paying States for Sheriffs
States such as California and Texas offer some of the highest salaries for sheriff positions, influenced by local cost of living and demand for law enforcement services. In contrast, rural areas may provide lower salaries but can offer other benefits, such as a lower cost of living.
Job Opportunities
In addition to standard sheriff roles, specialized positions such as deputy sheriffs and investigative roles can provide additional career pathways. Exploring these options can lead to rewarding careers in law enforcement.
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Where can a Sheriff earn more?
Sheriff salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level sheriff | $36,300 | $17.46 |
| Mid-level sheriff | $48,000 | $23.09 |
| Senior-level sheriff | $58,400 | $28.08 |
Sheriff salary estimates from across the web
Average sheriff salary by state
The average sheriff salary in New York, California, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average sheriff salary states are Missouri, Indiana, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for sheriffs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $56,453 | $27.14 |
| 2 | California | $57,786 | $27.78 |
| 3 | New York | $63,858 | $30.70 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $51,815 | $24.91 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $62,514 | $30.05 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $47,198 | $22.69 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $54,848 | $26.37 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $48,845 | $23.48 |
| 9 | Oregon | $49,290 | $23.70 |
| 10 | Illinois | $49,561 | $23.83 |
| 11 | Maine | $48,917 | $23.52 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $47,844 | $23.00 |
| 13 | Iowa | $44,521 | $21.40 |
| 14 | Maryland | $46,988 | $22.59 |
| 15 | Kansas | $46,067 | $22.15 |
| 16 | Delaware | $48,268 | $23.21 |
| 17 | Colorado | $44,663 | $21.47 |
| 18 | Nevada | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $47,536 | $22.85 |
| 20 | Virginia | $45,140 | $21.70 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $44,624 | $21.45 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $44,822 | $21.55 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $44,952 | $21.61 |
| 24 | Michigan | $43,228 | $20.78 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $45,523 | $21.89 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $42,173 | $20.28 |
| 27 | Ohio | $42,429 | $20.40 |
| 28 | Texas | $41,538 | $19.97 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $43,148 | $20.74 |
| 30 | Arizona | $42,364 | $20.37 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | $43,696 | $21.01 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $41,573 | $19.99 |
| 33 | Florida | $40,354 | $19.40 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $38,259 | $18.39 |
| 35 | Alaska | $40,182 | $19.32 |
| 36 | Idaho | $36,124 | $17.37 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| 38 | Montana | $35,238 | $16.94 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $37,372 | $17.97 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $38,758 | $18.63 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $39,500 | $18.99 |
| 43 | Vermont | $38,923 | $18.71 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $37,023 | $17.80 |
| 45 | Indiana | $34,591 | $16.63 |
| 46 | Utah | $33,996 | $16.34 |
| 47 | Alabama | $35,424 | $17.03 |
| 48 | Georgia | $33,044 | $15.89 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $34,012 | $16.35 |
| 50 | Missouri | $34,686 | $16.68 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $31,567 | $15.18 |
Highest paying cities for sheriffs
The highest-paying cities for sheriffs are Santa Rosa, CA, Rochester, NY, and Everett, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $63,363 | $30.46 |
| 2 | Rochester, NY | $58,615 | $28.18 |
| 3 | Everett, WA | $56,840 | $27.33 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,885 | $24.94 |
| 5 | Wheat Ridge, CO | $44,648 | $21.47 |
| 6 | Billings, MT | $34,870 | $16.76 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,807 | $16.25 |
| 8 | Marietta, GA | $32,907 | $15.82 |
| 9 | Winston-Salem, NC | $31,630 | $15.21 |
Sheriff salary details
A sheriff's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $69,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a sheriff's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| Average | $46,053 | $3,838 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying sheriff jobs
The highest paying types of sheriffs are sheriff's sergeant, supervising deputy, and lieutenant/deputy.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy | $53,682 | $4,473 | $25.81 | 56,150 |
| Deputy Sheriff | $50,143 | $4,179 | $24.11 | 65,303 |
Which companies pay sheriffs the most?
Sheriff salaries at Apple and Wellpath are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sheriff salary at companies like San Bernardino County and Forsyth County are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| 2 | Wellpath | $70,180 | $33.74 |
| 3 | San Bernardino County | $59,627 | $28.67 |
| 4 | Forsyth County | $58,271 | $28.01 |
| 5 | Ventura County Community Foundation | $55,850 | $26.85 |
| 6 | Salt Lake County | $55,347 | $26.61 |
| 7 | Snohomish County | $54,337 | $26.12 |
| 8 | Monroe County | $54,091 | $26.01 |
| 9 | Hennepin County Library | $53,188 | $25.57 |
| 10 | COUNTY OF MERCED | $49,995 | $24.04 |
| 11 | Weld County Government | $49,081 | $23.60 |
| 12 | County of Contra Costa | $46,495 | $22.35 |
| 13 | Allied Universal | $44,091 | $21.20 |
| 14 | City of El Dorado | $43,813 | $21.06 |
| 15 | Adams County Government Center | $42,619 | $20.49 |
| 16 | County Of Ventura | $42,583 | $20.47 |
| 17 | Jefferson Center Mental Health | $41,521 | $19.96 |
| 18 | County of Nevada, CA | $40,534 | $19.49 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Sheriff salary trends
The average sheriff salary has risen by $7,947 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sheriff earned $38,106 annually, but today, they earn $46,053 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for sheriffs over the last decade.
Compare sheriff salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average sheriff salary over time
Compare sheriff salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Sheriff salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,100 | $22.14 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $44,400 | $21.33 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $43,100 | $20.74 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $42,900 | $20.62 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $41,900 | $20.16 | +2.3% |
Recently added sheriff salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County (Sc | Sheriff's Technician | Beaufort, SC | 06/26/2025 | $42,345 |
| County of San Luis Obispo | Sheriff's Cadet | Ione, CA | 06/24/2025 | $98,360 |
| Merced County (Ca | Sheriff Dispatcher I/II-Extra-Help Sheriff Dispatcher I/II | Merced, CA | 06/22/2025 | $52,759 |
| Butte County (Ca | Sheriff's Clerk II | Oroville, CA | 06/13/2025 | $35,006 |
| Peoria County, Il | Sheriff-Jail Technician | Peoria, IL | 05/15/2025 | $47,312 |
| Hennepin County | Sheriff | Minneapolis, MN | 05/05/2025 | $104,326 |
| Suffolkcountyny | Undersheriff | Yaphank, NY | 04/28/2025 | $149,240 |
| County of Shasta (Ca | Sheriff's Cadet-Extra Help | Redding, CA | 04/19/2025 | $36,189 |
| Suffolkcountyny | Undersheriff | Yaphank, NY | 03/28/2025 | $149,240 |
| City & County of San Francisco (Ca | 8300-Sheriff's Cadet | San Francisco, CA | 03/26/2025 | $60,866 |
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