7/27/2023
The police, a profession essential to social order, is the law enforcement profession. In the United States, law enforcement officers can be local, regional or federal. If you want to have an idea of how much a police officer earns, we tell you what the statistics indicate.
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How much does a police officer earn in the USA?
As usual, the valuation of the salary in the United States will depend on several factors. The income of police officers is subject to the place where they work, the level of education attained and the accumulated experience.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the salary of a law enforcement officer ranges from $40,190 to $102,530, as of 2021. It should be noted here that criminal investigators and detectives are the highest paid within the police forces.
According to another more recent study, the average salary of a police officer is $52,638 nationwide. Within this study, the amount is more conservative, placing uniformed officers' salaries between $38,000 and $71,000 per year.
Returning to the national figures, the median salary is $64,610. Likewise, the percentile of what a police officer earns is divided as follows:
- $40,190 (10% percentile)
- $50,630 (25% percentile)
- 81,850 (75% percentile)
- $102,530 (90% percentile)
Where do police officers get paid the most in the United States?
As with other professions, there is a significant correlation between metropolitan areas and high salaries. In other words, cities where the cost of living is higher have an impact on how much a police officer earns.
In this regard, the East and West coasts have the highest salaries. In addition to California, New York and Washington DC, Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois and Minnesota stand out in this list.
On the other side of the spectrum are southern states, where law enforcement officers are paid the least in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Depending on the source you consult, you will see that salaries can vary greatly from state to state, even in the same positions. For example, the average salary for a NY state 'trooper' can be significantly higher than an officer in Florida or Texas.
Local vs. state hiring
It is difficult to say authoritatively whether local or state hiring can get you more money as a police officer. The fundamental problem on this issue is that there are too many factors involved that affect the final income. According to the BLS, average salaries look like this:
- Local government: $64,610
- State government: $72,280
- Federal government: $93,970
Factors Affecting a Police Officer's Salary
We have already mentioned some of the causes that affect a police officer's salary in the United States, so we will explain them in more detail.
Education and training
You may be able to get any basic law enforcement position with a high school degree. However, there are police forces that require you to have a college degree to be part of their staff.
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When you get a higher education, either before or after you are in law enforcement, you improve your chances of earning more. In some instances, ranks such as lieutenant, captain and commander require a college degree.
It is not uncommon for the highest ranking officers in the force to have a master's degree or even a doctorate. Often, you have to do this training if you want to get a promotion. Also, certain police organizations offer better pay for it (flat rate or a percentage).
Level of experience
The increase in income in the police force is usually defined by a pay scale adjusted for rank and years of experience. Each step you can achieve tends to be framed by a number of years.
As you advance in your career, you get a percentage increase. For example, you could go from level 1 (entry level) to level 2 in just one year. However, it could take a few years to reach level 3.
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Similarly, no matter how long you are in a police force, you also receive raises as you move up the chain of command. Law enforcement organizations are accustomed to promoting their own.
When a police officer reaches the next rank, it means a pay raise. For this reason, sheriffs and department heads are the highest earners, with the median typically at $99,330 a year.
Common benefits for U.S. police officers
Along with the base salary, a police officer also receives various benefits, such as health insurance, sick leave, retirement plans (401k plan) and vacation time. If as a police officer you work overtime, you can receive more per hour worked (up to 1 ½ times).
Now that you know how much a police officer earns in the United States, you might consider a career change. In the meantime, in Busconomico you can find more interesting posts about finances and other topics.
English: ¿Cuánto gana un policía en Estados Unidos?