Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $101,970/year ($49.02/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers.
So what does $102K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $92K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $97K | , |
| Greeley | $97K | , |
| Boulder | $100K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $37K 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
View Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $119K | +56% | 65,940 |
| Washington | $102K | +34% | 9,160 |
| Illinois | $101K | +32% | 29,180 |
| Alaska | $99K | +30% | 1,260 |
| Colorado | $97K | +28% | 9,610 |
| Delaware | $93K | +22% | 1,800 |
| New York | $93K | +22% | 53,470 |
| New Jersey | $93K | +22% | 21,780 |
| District of Columbia | $89K | +16% | 4,720 |
| Oregon | $88K | +16% | 5,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $85K | +12% | 26,510 |
| Hawaii | $84K | +10% | 2,420 |
| Minnesota | $83K | +9% | 9,160 |
| Connecticut | $82K | +8% | 6,500 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +4% | 17,040 |
| Arizona | $79K | +4% | 12,010 |
| Nevada | $78K | +3% | 5,720 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | +2% | 12,320 |
| Maryland | $78K | +2% | 9,720 |
| Utah | $77K | +1% | 5,500 |
| Rhode Island | $77K | +1% | 1,940 |
| Ohio | $77K | +1% | 23,430 |
| Texas | $76K | -0% | 63,100 |
| Nebraska | $75K | -2% | 3,490 |
| North Dakota | $75K | -2% | 1,630 |
| Florida | $74K | -2% | 43,630 |
| Iowa | $74K | -2% | 5,130 |
| Michigan | $74K | -3% | 16,750 |
| Indiana | $73K | -4% | 12,980 |
| New Hampshire | $72K | -6% | 2,460 |
| Montana | $70K | -8% | 2,160 |
| New Mexico | $69K | -9% | 4,580 |
| Vermont | $69K | -10% | 1,020 |
| Maine | $67K | -12% | 2,120 |
| Idaho | $67K | -12% | 2,810 |
| Wyoming | $66K | -13% | 1,310 |
| Virginia | $66K | -14% | 19,970 |
| South Dakota | $61K | -20% | 2,000 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -21% | 7,890 |
| Oklahoma | $60K | -22% | 9,660 |
| Missouri | $59K | -22% | 13,570 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -22% | 22,370 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -22% | 15,630 |
| Kansas | $59K | -22% | 6,130 |
| Georgia | $58K | -24% | 22,170 |
| South Carolina | $58K | -24% | 12,930 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -25% | 2,900 |
| Alabama | $51K | -33% | 11,710 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -37% | 12,400 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -37% | 5,710 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -39% | 8,070 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,598/month.
Is police and sheriff's patrol officer a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $102K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +34%.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $101,970 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,640, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $113,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,303/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a police and sheriff's patrol officers salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median police and sheriff's patrol officers salary is worth about $101,970 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.