SOC 33-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 10 metro areas compared
In Pennsylvania the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is $85,470 a year, which is 12.2% higher than the national figure of $76,210.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Pennsylvania the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is $85,470 a year, which is 12.2% higher than the national figure of $76,210. Half of workers earn between $63,080 and $96,970. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $48,680 and the ninetieth at $109,780.
The area has 26,510 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.01 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Pennsylvania ranks 11th by median wage. Gettysburg leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $91,530. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 164th of 778 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,680 | −36.1% |
| 25th | $63,080 | −17.2% |
| Median (50th) | $85,470 | +12.2% |
| 75th | $96,970 | +27.2% |
| 90th | $109,780 | +44.0% |
| Mean | $81,910 | +7.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gettysburg | $91,530 | 230 | |
| 2 | Philadelphia | $89,580 | 13,160 | |
| 3 | Reading | $87,060 | 690 | |
| 4 | Lancaster | $86,800 | 760 | |
| 5 | Allentown | $84,530 | 1,610 | |
| 6 | Harrisburg | $84,470 | 1,480 | |
| 7 | Pittsburgh | $83,190 | 5,080 | |
| 8 | Erie | $80,860 | 660 | |
| 9 | York | $79,550 | 630 | |
| 10 | Lebanon | $79,430 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $85,470 goes as far as $87,572 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$85,470as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$87,572US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $85,470 a year, 12.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,680 to $109,780 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 26,510 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 11th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Gettysburg, at $91,530.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage is $85,470, or $41.09 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 Pennsylvania is 12.2% higher. 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 Pennsylvania earns more than $109,780 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,680 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 Gettysburg, at $91,530 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 26,510 jobs in this occupation in Pennsylvania. 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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