Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is $77,440/year ($37.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $74,112 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,857/month — about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $77K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $115K | +51% | 65,170 |
| Washington | $103K | +35% | 8,370 |
| Illinois | $102K | +33% | 29,790 |
| Alaska | $100K | +31% | 1,160 |
| New York | $93K | +22% | 54,360 |
| Hawaii | $89K | +17% | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $89K | +17% | 21,620 |
| District of Columbia | $88K | +16% | 4,830 |
| Oregon | $88K | +16% | 4,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $86K | +13% | 24,280 |
| Minnesota | $83K | +9% | 8,920 |
| Delaware | $83K | +9% | 1,790 |
| Connecticut | $83K | +9% | 6,500 |
| Arizona | $79K | +4% | 12,430 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | +4% | 11,500 |
| Nevada | $79K | +3% | 5,490 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +3% | 17,000 |
| Maryland | $77K | +2% | 9,420 |
| Rhode Island | $77K | +1% | 1,780 |
| Utah | $77K | +1% | 5,370 |
| Ohio | $77K | +1% | 24,050 |
| Texas | $76K | +0% | 62,230 |
| Florida | $76K | -0% | 48,340 |
| North Dakota | $76K | -1% | 1,850 |
| Michigan | $74K | -2% | 16,290 |
| Iowa | $74K | -3% | 5,110 |
| Nebraska | $72K | -5% | 3,620 |
| Indiana | $72K | -6% | 13,480 |
| Montana | $70K | -8% | 2,020 |
| New Hampshire | $68K | -11% | 2,550 |
| Idaho | $66K | -13% | 2,630 |
| Maine | $65K | -14% | 1,930 |
| Wyoming | $65K | -15% | 1,300 |
| Virginia | $65K | -15% | 19,400 |
| Vermont | $64K | -17% | 1,080 |
| New Mexico | $63K | -17% | 4,830 |
| Missouri | $61K | -20% | 12,750 |
| South Dakota | $60K | -21% | 1,890 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -21% | 7,090 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -22% | 13,780 |
| North Carolina | $58K | -24% | 21,650 |
| South Carolina | $58K | -24% | 12,820 |
| Oklahoma | $57K | -25% | 9,420 |
| Kansas | $57K | -26% | 6,160 |
| Georgia | $56K | -26% | 21,540 |
| West Virginia | $55K | -28% | 3,130 |
| Alabama | $54K | -29% | 12,060 |
| Louisiana | $51K | -34% | 14,340 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -37% | 5,490 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -40% | 7,590 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $77,440 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,050, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $100,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,947/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 37.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a police and sheriff's patrol officers salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median police and sheriff's patrol officers salary is worth about $74,112 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.