SOC 33-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers — Northwest Alabama
Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Northwest Alabama, AL is $44,080 per year, substantially below the national median of $76,210 — a gap of 42.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Northwest Alabama, AL is $44,080 per year, substantially below the national median of $76,210 — a gap of 42.2%. Pay ranges from under $33,280 at the tenth percentile to more than $60,030 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,800 to $49,190.
Employment stands at 450, or 6.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Huntsville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $64,550. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 124th of 230 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,280 | −56.3% |
| 25th | $37,800 | −50.4% |
| Median (50th) | $44,080 | −42.2% |
| 75th | $49,190 | −35.5% |
| 90th | $60,030 | −21.2% |
| Mean | $45,860 | −39.8% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | $64,550 | 980 | |
| 2 | Birmingham | $60,590 | 2,730 | |
| 3 | Auburn | $60,230 | 410 | |
| 4 | Tuscaloosa | $59,670 | 710 | |
| 5 | Dothan | $59,210 | 430 | |
| 6 | Daphne | $58,860 | 560 | |
| 7 | Decatur | $57,120 | 360 | |
| 8 | Florence | $56,010 | 310 | |
| 9 | Montgomery | $48,490 | 1,060 | |
| 10 | Gadsden | $48,340 | 240 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Northwest Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $44,080 goes as far as $49,640 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 34.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,080as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,640US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,080 a year, 42.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,280 to $60,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 450 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Huntsville, at $64,550.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Northwest Alabama, AL?
The median annual wage is $44,080, or $21.19 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 Northwest Alabama, AL is 42.2% 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 Northwest Alabama, AL earns more than $60,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,280 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 Huntsville, at $64,550 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 450 jobs in this occupation in Northwest Alabama, AL. 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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