Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Georgia is $58,120/year ($27.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $63,250 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 37.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Georgia?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Georgia runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $76K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 37.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for police and sheriff's patrol officerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Georgia
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | $61K | +6% | 420 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $61K | +5% | 11,310 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $61K | +4% | 570 |
| Dalton | $60K | +3% | 290 |
| Savannah | $60K | +3% | 1,090 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $58K | +0% | 1,120 |
| Hinesville | $58K | -0% | 150 |
| Albany | $54K | -8% | 380 |
| Warner Robins | $53K | -9% | 450 |
| Columbus | $50K | -14% | 1,010 |
| Valdosta | $47K | -19% | 270 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $47K | -20% | 770 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 37.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,621/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Georgia?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $58K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Georgia pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Georgia?
The median is $58,120 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,690, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $76,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,833/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 37.4% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $63,250 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.