How much does a police officer make? $77,310 median pay, per BLS (May 2025 data)
Police and detectives earned a median $77,310 a year in May 2025, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Updated (ET)
Police and detectives earned a median $77,310 a year in May 2025, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% made under $48,160 and the top 10% over $121,600.
Median means half of workers earn more and half less. Salary sites often quote averages from job ads, which run higher or lower than what workers actually report to BLS's wage survey.
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual pay | $77,310 | BLS OOH |
| Median hourly pay | $37.17 | BLS OOH |
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $48,160 | BLS OOH |
| Top 10% earn more than | $121,600 | BLS OOH |
| Jobs (2025) | 824,200 | BLS OOH |
FAQ
What is the median pay for police and detectives?
What is the median pay for police and detectives?
$77,310 a year in May 2025. (Source)
What do the top earners make?
The top 10% earned more than $121,600. (Source)
What do the lowest earners make?
The bottom 10% earned less than $48,160. (Source)
How many people work in this job?
About 824,200 jobs in 2025. (Source)
How does it compare with all workers?
The median for all U.S. occupations was $50,980 in May 2025. (Source)
Where does this data come from?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, published in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. (Source)