If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re interested in becoming a police officer. This role is a great position to consider. If you’re wondering how to become a police officer, the answer is: You need a High School Diploma or GED. You also need to be a U.S. Citizen. Your record needs to be clean, and you need to be medically and psychologically fit.
Wondering how long it takes to become a police officer? Typically, it takes at least 13 to 19 weeks to complete the Police Academy. You can also expect in-person training during your probation period for about 6 months.
Being a police officer comes with a variety of perks. For example, here are some benefits you would most likely receive as a police officer:
- Increased pay with certifications
- Hazardous duty pay
- Opportunities for promotions
- Overtime (which comes with increased pay)
- Educational scholarships
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Plus, law enforcement is an excellent field to get into due to the constant demand for more employees. There’s no technology to completely replace police officers, meaning this job will be relevant and important to our society for the foreseeable future, making your job as a police officer viable for the long term.
How Much Does a Police Officer Make?
You’re probably wondering, “What about salary, though?” Salary is obviously an extremely important aspect of any career. Like most industries, salary is very closely linked to location. Each state in the United States has a different average salary for police officers.
Keep reading to learn how much you can make as a police officer by state. We’ll go in order of states from highest average police officer salary to lowest average annual salary.
1. New York: $53,856
The state with the highest average for police officer salaries is New York. In New York, the average police officer’s salary is $53,856. The average hourly range is $25.89. This is higher than the national average salary for police officers, which is $48,418.
2. New Hampshire: $52,186
The state with the second-highest average police officer salary is New Hampshire. The average salary is $52,186. The hourly rate is $25.09.
3. California: $51,652
It’s no surprise that California is in the top three spots for states with the highest average salary for police officers. An average police officer in California makes $51,652. Hourly, that rate is $24.83
Here are the rest of the state average police officer salaries:
- Vermont: Annually, it’s $49,305. Hourly, the rate is $23.70.
- Idaho: This state’s annual salary is $48,660. Hourly, that translates to $23.39.
- Massachusetts: The average salary is $48,345. Hourly, that’s $23.24.
- Wyoming: The average salary in Wyoming for police officers is $48,106 annually and $23.13 hourly.
- Maine: The average salary for police officers in Maine is $47,765 annually. The rate is $22.96 an hour.
- Nebraska: Nebraskan police officers make an average of $43.668 annually and $20.99 hourly.
- Ohio: In this state, the average annual salary is $43,473, which is $20.90 hourly.
- Georgia: Next up, we have Georgia with an average annual salary of $43,458. That’s $20.89 hourly.
- South Dakota: In South Dakota, police officers make an average of $43,123 annually and $20.73 hourly.
- Virginia: In thirtieth place, we have Virginia. Virginian police officers make an average of $43,835 annually, which is $20.72 hourly.
- Utah: The average annual salary in Utah is $42,835. Hourly, that’s $20.59.
- Washington: Police officers in Washington make an average of $47,082 annually, which is $22.64 hourly.
- Hawaii: Hawaii police officers make an average of $46,988 annually. Hourly, that’s $22.59.
- West Virginia: In eleventh place, we have West Virginia. These police officers make $46,800 annually and $22.50 hourly.
- Pennsylvania: Next up is Pennsylvania. The average police officer in this state makes $46,007 annually and $22.12 hourly.
- Connecticut: Police officers in this state make an average of $45,518 annually and $22.05 hourly.
- Montana: The average police officer income in Montana is $45,518 annually and $21.88 hourly.
- New Jersey: Police officers in New Jersey make an average of $45,241 annually and $21.75 hourly
- Rhode Island: The average salary in Rhode Island is $45,078 annually and $21.67 hourly.
- Arizona: Law enforcement employees make an average of $45,049 annually in Arizona, which is $21.66 hourly.
- Indiana: In this state, you could expect to make an average of $44,761 annually and $21.52 hourly.
- Alaska: In nineteenth place, we have Alaska. The average annual salary is $44,709 in this state. Hourly, that rate is $21.49.
- North Dakota: Up next is North Dakota, with an average annual salary of $44,421. Hourly, that’s $21.36.
- Maryland: In this state, you would make an average of $44,385 annually ($21.34 hourly).
- Nevada: Living in Nevada, a police officer would make an annual average of $44,357 and an hourly average of $21.33.
- Tennessee: The average salary in this state is $43,791 annually and $21.05 hourly.
- Minnesota: Law enforcement employees in Minnesota make an annual average of $43,785.
- Wisconsin: In this state, expect to make an average of $43,710 annually and $21.01 hourly.
- Oregon: In Oregon, you’ll make an average of $42,480 annually and $20.42 hourly.
- Louisiana: In this state, the average salary is $42,463. Hourly, that’s $20.41.
- Alabama: Alabama is next with an average salary of $42,442 for police officers. Hourly, the rate is $20.40.
- Kansas: The next state is Kansas, with an average salary of $41,879. That’s $20.13 hourly.
- South Carolina: In this state, the average income is $41,712 annually and $20.05 hourly.
- Iowa: Law enforcement employees in Iowa make an average of $41,705 annually and $20.05 hourly.
- Colorado: Colorado police officers average $41,574 annually and $19.99 hourly.
- New Mexico: Police officers in this state make an average of $41,540 annually and $19.97 hourly.
- Delaware: In this state, expect to make $41,483 annually and $19.94 hourly.
- Missouri: The average income in Missouri is $41,275 annually. That’s $19.84 hourly.
- Florida: The average salary in Florida is $40,959 annually, which is $19.69 hourly.
- Oklahoma: Police officers in Oklahoma make an average of $40,586 annually and $19.51 hourly.
- Kentucky: The average salary in this state is $39,783 annually and $19.13 hourly.
- Mississippi: In this state, you can expect to make $39,237 annually, which is $18.86 hourly.
- Arkansas: In Arkansas, the average salary is $39,052, which is $18.77 hourly.
- Michigan: In Michigan, police officers make an average salary of $39,011. That’s $18.76 hourly.
- Illinois: In this state, the average salary is $38,840, which is $18.67 hourly.
- Texas: Almost at the bottom of our list, Texas police officers make an average of $38,616 annually and $18.57 hourly.
- North Carolina: Police officers in North Carolina have the lowest average salary in the United States. These employees make an average of $35,545 annually and $17.09 hourly.
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