SOC 33-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers — Missouri
Missouri · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Missouri is $59,460 a year, trailing the national median of $76,210 by 22.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Missouri is $59,460 a year, trailing the national median of $76,210 by 22.0%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,760 and $75,930. The lowest tenth earn under $43,210, while the highest tenth earn more than $90,770.
The area has 13,570 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.07 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Missouri ranks number 41st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, St. Louis records the highest median at $73,240. Of the 733 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 343rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,210 | −43.3% |
| 25th | $46,760 | −38.6% |
| Median (50th) | $59,460 | −22.0% |
| 75th | $75,930 | −0.4% |
| 90th | $90,770 | +19.1% |
| Mean | $62,520 | −18.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | $73,240 | 5,950 | |
| 2 | Kansas City | $62,960 | 4,820 | |
| 3 | Columbia | $62,080 | 310 | |
| 4 | Jefferson City | $59,860 | 620 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $58,460 | 1,010 | |
| 6 | St. Joseph | $58,170 | 270 | |
| 7 | Cape Girardeau | $56,010 | 150 | |
| 8 | Joplin | $45,460 | 360 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $59,460 goes as far as $65,485 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,485US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,460 a year, 22.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,210 to $90,770 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 13,570 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 41st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Louis, at $73,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Missouri?
The median annual wage is $59,460, or $28.59 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $76,210, so pay in Missouri is 22.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Missouri earns more than $90,770 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,210 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in St. Louis, at $73,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 13,570 jobs in this occupation in Missouri. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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