Badge and Bucks: The Surprising Amount Police Officers Earn Per Hour

If you’re looking for a job in law enforcement, you’ve probably considered working as a police officer. As an officer of the law, you’re expected to protect the lives of others, even if it means putting your own life at risk, enforce laws and ordinances, and conduct traffic stops, among other things. So, how much are police officers paid per hour?

While you’d expect the police to be generously compensated for their commitment and duties, the position is often undervalued in many states. If you’re considering this as your next career move, keep reading for a breakdown of the states where police officers are paid the most and those that pay them the least.

The amount a police officer makes per hour varies by state, with the cost of living serving as one of the most influential factors. On average, police officers make about $34.02 per hour, according to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But police salaries do fluctuate significantly.

While some police officers might earn as little as $19.32 per hour or about $40,190 annually, others are paid as much as $49.29 per hour or $102,530 per year.

If you’re looking to make the most per hour working as a police officer, these states offer the highest compensation for the position:

• California's average police officer hourly pay: $49.48 or $102,920 annually
• Washington's average police officer hourly pay: $44.42 or $92,390 annually
• New Jersey's average police officer hourly pay: $44.08 or $91.690 annually
• Alaska's average police officer hourly pay: $42.07 or $87,520 annually
• Illinois' average police officer hourly pay: $39.81 or $82,800 annually

California is one state where police officers earn the most. The average base salary for police in California is $88,376, according to Indeed. This equates to about $7,365 per month, $1,700 per week, and $42.29 per hour.

Taking a deeper look at how California compensates its police officers, we found these metropolitan areas to be the highest-paying.

• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: average hourly pay $60.56
• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward: average hourly pay $56.95
• Napa: average hourly pay $55.78
• Vallejo-Fairfield: average hourly pay $55.67
• Santa Rosa: average hourly pay $50.99

Although some cities are willing to pay competitive wages to secure police officers, there are a handful of states, most of which are located in the south, that are known for compensating police officers the least. These include:

• Georgia
• Alabama
• Mississippi
• Louisiana
• Arkansas
• Tennessee
• North Carolina
• Kentucky
• West Virginia
• Kansas
• South Dakota

In these states, police officers generally earn anywhere between $38,940 and $52,580 per year or roughly $19–$25 per hour.

With a large percentage of police officers being undercompensated, many seek out other ways to make money, like side hustles. Given police officers' skills and certifications, they can often make extra money working as a security guard, event security, campus patroller, or by taking on other types of off-duty jobs.

Police agencies generally display off-duty assignments within the department for officers to claim. Some jobs can be as simple as monitoring an apartment complex overnight or posting in front of a restaurant located in a high-crime area.

Police officers are obligated to protect the lives of others and their property. Most are tasked with enforcing laws, patrolling communities, issuing citations such as speeding tickets, and making arrests. Police officers are also expected to investigate crimes, write clear and concise reports, and have a firm understanding of the law.

Occasionally, an officer of the law may be required to appear in court. This generally happens when a civilian challenges a traffic ticket or a statement is needed.

If you think you have what it takes to become a police officer and are comfortable with the hourly pay, contact the police department you want to work for to apply.