Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $85,420/year ($41.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $93,152 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $43K 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
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $85,420 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,320, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $104,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,336/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 $93,152 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.