Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $119,240 or more. The middle half of police and sheriff's patrol officers in Washington earn between $71,910 and $98,540.
- $64K10th
- $72K25th
- $84KMedian
- $99K75th
- $119K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,110 | $7,259 | $41.88 |
| Median | $84,000 | $7,000 | $40.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,910 | $5,992 | $34.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,540 | $8,212 | $47.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Police and sheriff's patrol officers in Washington earn 6% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($92,390) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($79,200). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $76,210.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $87,110 | $84,000 | $63,530 | $119,240 | 14,630 |
| Washington, D.C. | $92,390 | $88,650 | $66,420 | $119,660 | 4,720 |
| United States | $79,200 | $76,210 | $47,510 | $115,120 | 670,520 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $87,110, a single filer in Washington takes home about $65,676 a year, or $5,473 a month and $2,526 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $67,011 | $5,584 |
| Working in MD | $66,186 | $5,515 |
| Working in VA | $65,917 | $5,493 |
| Working in DC | $65,676 | $5,473 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for police and sheriff's patrol officers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $87,110 buys what about $80,003 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$73,220
- Baltimore, MD$80,810
- Winchester, VA$61,410
- Lexington Park, MD$79,110
- Gettysburg, PA$91,280
- Chambersburg, PA$73,160
Highest-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($143,520).
- San Jose, CA$143,520
- San Francisco, CA$130,190
- Vallejo, CA$127,150
- Napa, CA$124,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$118,750
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Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in Washington: questions
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make an hour in Washington?
$41.88 an hour on average, and $40.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the police and sheriff's patrol officers take-home pay in Washington?
About $65,676 a year ($5,473 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,110.
Do police and sheriff's patrol officers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more than the U.S. average for this job ($79,200).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-3051; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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