Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Delaware is $92,970/year ($44.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $95,344 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,448/month, or 24.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Delaware. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $93K get you in Delaware?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Delaware
Delaware sits well above the national pay line for police and sheriff's patrol officers, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,448/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Delaware
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Delaware numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 25.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/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 Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,748/month. At HUD’s $1,448/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 Delaware?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $93K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Delaware pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Delaware?
The median is $92,970 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,470, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $130,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,742/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 25.2% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (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 $95,344 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.