How Police Officer pay varies by city
Across the 50 U.S. metros tracked here, Police Officer pay ranges from about $51,050 in New Orleans, LA to $145,340 in San Jose, CA (median wage). But the highest nominal pay isn’t the best deal once local prices are factored in: adjusted for cost of living, Wichita, KS delivers the strongest real buying power (about $301,475 in national-average dollars). The U.S. national average for this role is about $76,550.
The table below ranks every metro by median wage. “Real pay” adjusts each salary for local cost of living (BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. = 100) so you can compare what the paycheck is actually worth. See our methodology for sources and formulas.