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Salary comparison

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

Transit and Railroad Police out-earn Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by $14K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Transit and Railroad Police land at $90,230 and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers at $76,210. The education gap is real: transit and railroad police 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 Transit and Railroad Police is California ($109,650); for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers it's California ($118,880).

Transit and Railroad Police
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Median salary
$90,230
$76,210
Hourly rate
$43.38/hr
$36.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$57,690
$47,510
Senior level (90th %)
$125,910
$115,120
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
4,390
670,520
Job growth (10-year)
3%
3.1%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
California
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Transit and Railroad Police median pay.

State
Transit and Railroad Police
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
California
$109,650
$118,880
New Jersey
$106,290
$92,610
Maryland
$99,420
$77,970
New York
$90,460
$92,790
Utah
$87,770
$77,310
Texas
$78,480
$75,900
Florida
$69,810
$74,470
Missouri
$67,840
$59,460
Georgia
$57,690
$58,120

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

Common questions

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

Transit and Railroad Police earn more nationally. The median is $90,230 for Transit and Railroad Police versus $76,210 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, a difference of $14K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Transit and Railroad Police 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 3% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Transit and Railroad Police 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 Transit and Railroad Police get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Transit and Railroad Police at $109,650/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Transit and Railroad Police earn $109,650 vs. $118,880 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Transit and Railroad Police salary breakdownView →Full Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Transit and Railroad Police by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by take-home payExplore →How to become a transit and railroad policeGuide →How to become a police and sheriff's patrol officersGuide →