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Salary comparison

Bailiffs vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: Who Earns More?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers out-earn Bailiffs by $20K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Bailiffs land at $56,600 and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers at $76,210. The education gap is real: bailiff programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while police and sheriff's patrol officer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Bailiffs is Connecticut ($111,890); for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers it's California ($118,880).

Bailiffs
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Median salary
$56,600
$76,210
Hourly rate
$27.21/hr
$36.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$32,140
$47,510
Senior level (90th %)
$96,770
$115,120
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
17,310
670,520
Job growth (10-year)
-2.2%
3.1%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
Connecticut
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Bailiffs median pay.

State
Bailiffs
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Connecticut
$111,890
$82,170
Alaska
$90,600
$99,130
Massachusetts
$86,730
$78,940
Washington
$78,290
$102,080
New York
$77,540
$92,790
Nevada
$71,230
$78,140
Colorado
$63,320
$97,350
Oregon
$57,140
$88,140
Minnesota
$49,890
$83,360
Hawaii
$48,940
$83,820
Pennsylvania
$47,600
$85,470
Illinois
$46,390
$100,520
Arizona
$46,390
$78,880
New Jersey
$43,690
$92,610
Wisconsin
$39,080
$78,090

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Bailiffs or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn more nationally. The median is $56,600 for Bailiffs versus $76,210 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, a difference of $20K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Bailiffs or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers has the better 10-year outlook at 3.1% projected growth, compared to -2.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Bailiffs or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Bailiffs typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Bailiffs get paid the most?

Connecticut is the top-paying state for Bailiffs at $111,890/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Bailiffs vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Connecticut, Bailiffs earn $111,890 vs. $82,170 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Bailiffs salary breakdownView →Full Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Bailiffs by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by take-home payExplore →How to become a bailiffsGuide →How to become a police and sheriff's patrol officersGuide →