Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Arizona is $78,880/year ($37.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $81,817 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 27.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Arizona?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Arizona
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,437/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Arizona
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $85K | +8% | 7,860 |
| Flagstaff | $79K | -0% | 260 |
| Tucson | $77K | -2% | 1,600 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $74K | -6% | 480 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $73K | -8% | 380 |
| Yuma | $66K | -17% | 350 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas | $60K | -24% | 260 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,659/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is police and sheriff's patrol officer a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Arizona pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Arizona?
The median is $78,880 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,990, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $98,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,159/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 27.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a police and sheriff's patrol officers salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median police and sheriff's patrol officers salary is worth about $81,817 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do police and sheriff's patrol officers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.