Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Florida is $74,470/year ($35.81/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $75,543 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 32.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $74K get you in Florida?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Florida
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in Florida tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,658/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) 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, Florida
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Florida
22 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $80K | +7% | 14,710 |
| Jacksonville | $79K | +6% | 2,800 |
| Port St. Lucie | $77K | +3% | 1,030 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $77K | +3% | 1,580 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $76K | +2% | 1,500 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $76K | +2% | 5,190 |
| Homosassa Springs | $74K | -0% | 190 |
| Ocala | $74K | -1% | 780 |
| Naples-Marco Island | $73K | -2% | 680 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $73K | -2% | 220 |
| Punta Gorda | $70K | -6% | 230 |
| Tallahassee | $67K | -10% | 850 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $67K | -10% | 1,300 |
| Gainesville | $63K | -15% | 720 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $63K | -15% | 5,400 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $61K | -19% | 1,240 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $60K | -19% | 310 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $59K | -21% | 660 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $59K | -21% | 440 |
| Sebring | $59K | -21% | 160 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $57K | -24% | 710 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $54K | -28% | 1,220 |
Showing 1–10 of 22 metros
Compare to other states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 32.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,080/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Florida?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Florida compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Florida pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Florida?
The median is $74,470 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,330, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $98,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,065/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 32.7% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $75,543 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.