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Police Officer Salaries in All States

Becoming a police officer is a good career choice if you want to work in law enforcement. A rewarding career, it allows you to serve and protect community, and enjoy a good reputation in the society. Police officers have both physical and administrative responsibilities as they are involved in filing reports, conducting interviews of suspects and witnesses, and replying to queries of common people.

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Outside the police station, an officer responds to calls, investigates crime scene, carry out surveillance, and makes arrests. There is a continuous demand for police officers in the US as there are employment opportunities in both urban and rural areas. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021, the projected employment growth for police officers between 2021-2031 is 3%. The mean annual salary for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in 2021 was recorded to be $ 70,750.

Below are the states with the highest employment level in Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers:

State Employment 
California 70,050
Texas 60,440
New York 49,910
Florida 45,360
Illinois 30,640

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021)

Top Paying States for Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers

As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021, California is the highest paying state in the state with an annual mean wage of $ 102,920. O*Net Online has projected that approximately 71,700 police officers will be employed in the state by 2030. Washington is on second position as the highest paying state in the US, with the annual mean wage being $ 92,390. Below is the list of the top five paying states for police officers.

State Annual Mean Wage 
California $ 102,920
Washington $ 92,390
New Jersey $ 91,690
Alaska $ 87,510
Illinois $ 82,800

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021)