How Much Police Officers Get Paid Across America

America is in the midst of serious reckoning with how it funds its police force. That came into clear relief when the city council of Minneapolis voted to eliminate its existing department. In doing so, the city will invest in a new model of public safety and emergency response. Likewise, many major cities are in the midst of slashing police budgets and redirecting resources to other services more capable of addressing the underlying issues in needy communities. The hope is that such action might ultimately prove more useful in reducing crime and, in turn, police involvement.

These questions have brought a renewed focus on police budgets — including where and how money is spent, and what returns it might or might not be providing. As a result, the salaries earned by cops have also been put under the microscope.

A closer look at police pay in America’s largest cities, however, suggests that swollen police budgets are hardly being driven by excessive police salaries. In fact, only a handful of major metropolitan police departments in the country have a median salary that exceeds the national average — indicating that while police departments might be receiving too much money, rank-and-file officers are likely not getting the same treatment.

GOBankingRates dug into the numbers and found which police departments pay their officers more than the average American. This new study lays out the median and mean police salaries for the largest metropolitan areas in the country. Focusing on metropolitan areas rather than cities offers a more complete view of a department’s responsibilities, though it is important to note that some metropolitan areas sprawl over state lines.

Here’s a closer look at how much police are paid across America.

Last updated: Sept. 2, 2020

1. Jackson, Mississippi

Population: 580,280
Median annual pay: $36,660
Average annual pay: $37,380

2. Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia

Population: 358,234
Median annual pay: $41,910
Average annual pay: $45,030

3. Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, South Carolina

Population: 883,853
Median annual pay: $41,930
Average annual pay: $43,360

4. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Arkansas

Population: 734,502
Median annual pay: $46,160
Average annual pay: $48,380

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5. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia

Population: 5,779,463
Median annual pay: $47,830
Average annual pay: $48,800

6. New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana

Population: 1,263,635
Median annual pay: $48,130
Average annual pay: $47,160

7. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee

Population: 1,864,138
Median annual pay: $49,880
Average annual pay: $49,950

8. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina

Population: 2,473,125
Median annual pay: $50,160
Average annual pay: $52,060

9. Birminingham-Hoover, Alabama

Population: 1,147,054
Median annual pay: $52,060
Average annual pay: $51,050

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Photo Disclaimer: Police vehicle shown is from Montgomery Police Department

10. Kansas City, Kansas

Population: 2,106,632
Median annual pay: $52,230
Average annual pay: $54,960

11. Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont

Population: 218,042
Median annual pay: $54,240
Average annual pay: $54,230

12. Cheyenne, Wyoming

Population: 97,692
Median annual pay: $54,410
Average annual pay: $55,620

Editor’s note: No data was available for police officer pay in Cheyenne, Wyoming. GOBankinRates used data for Eastern Wyoming instead.

13. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Population: 910,012
Median annual pay: $57,100
Average annual pay: $55,480

14. Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky

Population: 1,285,270
Median annual pay: $57,150
Average annual pay: $56,350

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15. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Population: 1,369,759
Median annual pay: $57,800
Average annual pay: $56,250

16. Boise City, Idaho

Population: 693,952
Median annual pay: $59,020
Average annual pay: $59,970

17. Salt Lake City, Utah

Population: 1,185,990
Median annual pay: $59,300
Average annual pay: $59,010

18. Portland-South Portland, Maine

Population: 529,323
Median annual pay: $60,120
Average annual pay: $59,710

19. Manchester, New Hampshire

Population: 411,087
Median annual pay: $60,310
Average annual pay: $61,670

Editor’s note: The population listed is for the Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire, metropolitan area.

20. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Population: 255,438
Median annual pay: $61,960
Average annual pay: $62,100

21. St. Louis, Missouri

Population: 2,805,551
Median annual pay: $62,140
Average annual pay: $61,100

22. Billings, Montana

Population: 169,086
Median annual pay: $62,420
Average annual pay: $63,910

23. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan

Population: 4,317,179
Median annual pay: $62,690
Average annual pay: $61,800

24. Fargo, North Dakota

Population: 237,003
Median annual pay: $62,980
Average annual pay: $64,420

25. Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island

Population: 1,615,516
Median annual pay: $64,400
Average annual pay: $64,860

26. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Indiana

Population: 2,007,497
Median annual pay: $65,520
Average annual pay: $62,340

27. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa

Population: 634,201
Median annual pay: $68,250
Average annual pay: $66,220

Photo note: This image is of an Iowa state trooper vehicle as we were unable to get a vehicle from the Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area specifically.

28. Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska

Population: 922,891
Median annual pay: $68,770
Average annual pay: $66,140

29. Cincinnati, Ohio

Population: 2,168,825
Median annual pay: $69,110
Average annual pay: $66,810

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30. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland

Population: 2,793,250
Median annual pay: $71,060
Average annual pay: $71,380

31. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida

Population: 6,070,944
Median annual pay: $71,550
Average annual pay: $71,400

32. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona

Population: 4,673,634
Median annual pay: $71,660
Average annual pay: $71,220

33. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

Population: 7,255,028
Median annual pay: $71,770
Average annual pay: $72,200

34. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, Virginia

Population: 6,138,382
Median annual pay: $73,080
Average annual pay: $74,220

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35. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania

Population: 6,069,448
Median annual pay: $73,720
Average annual pay: $74,010

36. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Delaware

Population: 6,069,448
Median annual pay: $73,720
Average annual pay: $74,010

37. Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, Massachusetts

Population: 4,811,732
Median annual pay: $74,160
Average annual pay: $75,250

Editor’s note: The population listed is for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts, metropolitan area.

38. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisconsin

Population: 1,575,907
Median annual pay: $74,420
Average annual pay: $72,760

39. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Connecticut

Population: 1,209,367
Median annual pay: $74,940
Average annual pay: $74,930

40. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii

Population: 987,638
Median annual pay: $78,570
Average annual pay: $79,570

41. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada

Population: 2,141,574
Median annual pay: $79,470
Average annual pay: $77,270

42. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota

Population: 3,557,528
Median annual pay: $79,670
Average annual pay: $77,590

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43. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon

Population: 2,417,931
Median annual pay: $80,480
Average annual pay: $80,340

44. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado

Population: 2,850,221
Median annual pay: $84,840
Average annual pay: $82,020

45. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington

Population: 3,809,717
Median annual pay: $87,220
Average annual pay: $84,330

46. New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York

Population: 19,990,592
Median annual pay: $88,560
Average annual pay: $83,040

47. New York-Newark-Jersey City, New Jersey

Population: 19,990,592
Median annual pay: $88,560
Average annual pay: $83,040

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48. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois

Population: 9,536,428
Median annual pay: $88,770
Average annual pay: $82,170

49. Anchorage, Alaska

Population: 399,576
Median annual pay: $92,440
Average annual pay: $92,630

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50. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California

Population: 13,262,234
Median annual pay: $113,160
Average annual pay: $108,420