The average starting salary for a police officer is $26,400. This is $8,000 less than the average wage in the United States. However, if you move up the ranks, then you could earn $75,940 after just five years. These are some of the figures from a report conducted by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report also showed that the total payroll for all officers was nearly five billion dollars with more than 1.1 million jobs being added to this industry every year.”
The starting salary for police officer can vary a lot with the location, the size and type of organization one applies to. In this article we will check low, average and high salaries for police officers based on the advertised figures for selected cities using official sources. The figures below are meant to provide you with an approach in the direction of what kind of money you can make as a police officer when working in different locations within the United States.
Average starting salary for police officer
Police officers have one of the highest entry-level salaries in the state. By getting a degree and earning certification, these professionals can look forward to earning an average starting salary just under $50,000 per year. It is important to note, however, that there is a large range with the potential high being nearly $78,000 per year. Over time, police officers can work their way up through positions in higher ranks and may eventually become administrators or even police chiefs.
Criminal Justice majors can look forward to a competitive starting salary in law enforcement. The BLS notes that most starting police officers earn between $35,720 and $45,567, the top end of which is well above the national average for college graduates. Once you factor in federal and state benefits, police officers have a very generous overall compensation package.
On average, a police officer in Canada earns just over fifty thousand dollars a year, but that can vary from province to province. For example, an officer starting off with the RCMP starts at approximately fifty-one thousand dollars a year and urban police departments tend to offer around fifty-two thousand, while rural departments generally top out at around fifty-three grand.
Being a police officer may be an opportunity that you truly find rewarding. This career choice will allow you to engage with the public and offer assistance during times of need. Before you begin your quest, there are some things to consider. The amount of time and money required, as well as the work environment, should all be part of your consideration process.
If you want to follow in the footsteps of well-paid professionals like police officers, a high school diploma and some prior work experience are almost always required. Public schools and community colleges often offer courses linked to careers in law enforcement, like the criminal justice major at Murray State University in Kentucky. Earning a bachelor’s degree can help you become eligible for high-level positions in your agency or department, such as a crime scene investigator or detective.
