Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $52,270/year ($25.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $59,069 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month — about 31.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $52K get you in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton’s Regional Price Parity (88.49). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $28K 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
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $52,270 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,000, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $67,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,474/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 31.5% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has a Regional Price Parity of 88.49 (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 $59,069 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.