Police officers serve the community and protect the lives of the citizens, and property of those in their jurisdiction. They enforce laws, make sure citizens are abiding by the law, and help the community in a wide range of ways.
Police work is often physically demanding if positioned out on the streets. There is a risk of harm, injury, and dangerous situations. Police officers have one of the highest rates of illness, injury, and stress related records of all professions.
To join the police force there are a few different routes a person can take. Typically a high school diploma, to a college, or higher level of academic qualification is required. Most police officers then go through their districts training academy to graduate.
Follow the link if you’re wondering how you can become a police officer.
Police Officer Salary
How much do police officers make? The average police officers salary is . This is calculated by taking the wage in the middle of all the recorded figures for the occupation.
This median salary is for police and sheriff’s patrol officers. Detectives and criminal investigators will earn much more, while wardens will earn slightly less than police officers.
If we combine all data from BLS, the lowest 10% of earners in the police officer profession earn below $36,550. While the highest 10% earns in excess of $106,090. This difference in salary is down to a number of factors, most of which we will look into throughout this article.
A police officers starting salary is around $36,550. This depends on which state they are working in, their level of qualification, and within which department. There are numerous roles available to a rookie, leading to different paths throughout their career.
The police force are divided into many different occupations, some of the larger occupations and their median salaries are as follows:
• Detectives and criminal investigators – $81,920
• Sheriff’s patrol officers – $61,380
• Railroad and transit police – $74,030
• Game wardens – $57,710
Benefits of working as a police officer vary across different states and districts. Some states provide allowances for uniforms and additional equipment. While other states give their officers the option to retire younger than the average age.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | New Jersey | 5.74 | $42.56 | $88,530 |
 | California | 4.51 | $42.08 | $87,520 |
 | Alaska | 3.37 | $36.38 | $75,670 |
 | New York | 5.68 | $34.76 | $72,310 |
 | Washington | 2.77 | $34.73 | $72,240 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Government | 2.71 | $31.38 | $65,270 |
| Local Government | 10.30 | $28.57 | $59,430 |
| Specialty Hospitals | 0.06 | $26.79 | $55,730 |
| Postal Service | 0.08 | $26.50 | $55,120 |
| Surgical and General Medical Hospitals | 0.02 | $26.15 | $54,400 |
Police Officer Job Description
What does a police officer do? Police officers serve the community, protecting lives and property. Police offers cover a wide range of duties, here are some of the key duties:
• Patrolling the streets and enforcing laws.
• Responding quickly to emergency calls.
• Enforcing traffic laws and conducting stops.
• Work on legal cases and take the stand in court.
• Record police reports and maintain records.
Police officers career paths often lead to different roles. Advancing to the position of detective, or criminal investigator is a natural progression. In this role some of the key duties include:
• Attending crime scenes to investigate the crime, secure evidence, and make notes.
• Carry out interviews with witnesses and suspects tied to crimes.
• Fill out crime reports and maintain other criminal records.
• Request arrest warrants and execute them.
• Carry out investigations and observe suspected criminal activity.
Police officers apprehend citizens who break the law. They issue penalties, citations, warnings and make arrests. They also have extensive first aid training and can help victims with injuries until the paramedics arrive.
One of the most interesting and unique aspects of being a police officer is the unknowns that can happen on any day. There are a wide range of crimes being committed, and an officer can never be sure what they will come across.
Here are some examples of the different roles of a police officer, and some of their responsibilities:
Uniformed police officers – These officers are typically seen as general officers of the law. They wear uniforms and are easily recognizable to the public. They patrol on foot and by car, responding to emergencies or intervening to crimes in progress. Some officers work on specific types of crime, like traffic crime, narcotics, or violence.
State police officers – Also known as highway patrol officers or state troopers. Although the state police cover a lot of the same duties as uniformed police officers, they have the authority to enforce the law and work anywhere across the state they are stationed in.
Railroad and transit police – These officers patrol transit station and railroad years. They protect the employees of the yards, and the property. They have the authority to stop and check the ID of people on the property, and remove any trespassers.
Detective and criminal investigators – They are not in uniform, and tend to work on specific criminal cases instead of patrolling for crime. They interview witnesses to crimes, conduct interviews with suspects or proven criminals, and participate in raids and arrests.
Police Officer Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 5.806 | $20.15 | $41,910 |
| Alaska | 3.371 | $36.38 | $75,670 |
 | Arizona | 4.791 | $28.32 | $58,900 |
 | Arkansas | 4.746 | $18.14 | $37,730 |
| California | 4.512 | $42.08 | $87,520 |
 | Colorado | 3.988 | $31.10 | $64,680 |
 | Connecticut | 4.387 | $31.15 | $64,790 |
 | Delaware | 4.124 | $30.82 | $64,100 |
 | Florida | 5.008 | $27.72 | $57,650 |
 | Georgia | 5.57 | $18.39 | $38,250 |
 | Hawaii | 4.719 | $28.82 | $59,950 |
 | Idaho | 4.268 | $23.38 | $48,630 |
 | Illinois | 5.417 | $32.93 | $68,500 |
 | Indiana | 3.889 | $22.98 | $47,810 |
 | Iowa | 3.274 | $25.72 | $53,490 |
 | Kansas | 4.438 | $21.18 | $44,050 |
 | Kentucky | 3.729 | $19.86 | $41,300 |
 | Louisiana | 5.733 | $18.94 | $39,400 |
 | Maine | 3.563 | $20.80 | $43,270 |
 | Maryland | 5.47 | $28.79 | $59,880 |
 | Massachusetts | 5.027 | $28.69 | $59,680 |
 | Michigan | 3.696 | $27.14 | $56,450 |
 | Minnesota | 3.32 | $28.23 | $58,720 |
 | Mississippi | 6.523 | $15.74 | $32,740 |
 | Missouri | 4.792 | $21.65 | $45,020 |
 | Montana | 3.455 | $22.95 | $47,730 |
 | Nebraska | 3.576 | $25.15 | $52,310 |
 | Nevada | 3.637 | $32.75 | $68,110 |
 | New Hampshire | 4.464 | $24.79 | $51,560 |
| New Jersey | 5.738 | $42.56 | $88,530 |
 | New Mexico | 5.17 | $22.72 | $47,260 |
| New York | 5.681 | $34.76 | $72,310 |
 | North Carolina | 4.852 | $19.79 | $41,160 |
 | North Dakota | 2.645 | $24.30 | $50,550 |
 | Ohio | 4.467 | $26.32 | $54,750 |
 | Oklahoma | 5.082 | $20.54 | $42,720 |
 | Oregon | 2.916 | $30.60 | $63,650 |
 | Pennsylvania | 4.876 | $29.42 | $61,200 |
 | Rhode Island | 4.206 | $27.02 | $56,210 |
 | South Carolina | 5.665 | $18.57 | $38,630 |
 | South Dakota | 4.015 | $20.60 | $42,840 |
 | Tennessee | 4.652 | $20.28 | $42,190 |
 | Texas | 4.922 | $25.93 | $53,940 |
 | Utah | 3.53 | $22.35 | $46,500 |
 | Vermont | 4.015 | $21.57 | $44,870 |
 | Virginia | 5.006 | $24.95 | $51,900 |
| Washington | 2.77 | $34.73 | $72,240 |
 | West Virginia | 5.333 | $18.82 | $39,160 |
 | Wisconsin | 4.09 | $26.19 | $54,480 |
 | Wyoming | 4.146 | $24.77 | $51,510 |
Top paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco / San Mateo / Redwood City, – CA – Metropolitan Division | 4.87 | $48.58 | $101,040 |
| San Jose / Sunnyvale / Santa Clara, – CA | 3.45 | $47.93 | $99,700 |
| Oakland / Fremont / Hayward, – CA – Metropolitan Division | 4.84 | $47.69 | $99,200 |
| Nassau / Suffolk, – NY – Metropolitan Division | 4.12 | $46.43 | $96,570 |
| Edison / New Brunswick, – NJ – Metropolitan Division | 4.49 | $45.36 | $94,350 |
Top paying non-metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Mountains, Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 9.34 | $40.49 | $84,210 |
| Mother Lode, Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 10.65 | $39.82 | $82,830 |
| Railbelt-Southwest Alaska – nonmetropolitan area | 3.80 | $38.34 | $79,750 |
| North Coast, Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 4.23 | $36.24 | $75,370 |
| Eastern Sierra, Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 9.38 | $35.02 | $72,830 |
Police Officer Job Outlook
Employment of police officers is expected to grow 7% between 2016 and 2026. This is the average of all occupations. However, demand varies considerably from state to state.
There is always a demand to lower crime rates and an increase in public safety. However, due to local and state budgets always tightening, the growth of this profession is lower than the public would like to see.
