Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Illinois is $100,520/year ($48.33/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $107,107 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Illinois?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for police and sheriff's patrol officers, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $76K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 22.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Illinois offers a genuinely strong financial position for police and sheriff's patrol officerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Illinois
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $108K | +7% | 22,680 |
| Springfield | $83K | -18% | 420 |
| Decatur | $82K | -19% | 200 |
| Bloomington | $80K | -20% | 360 |
| Kankakee | $79K | -22% | 190 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $79K | -22% | 430 |
| Rockford | $79K | -22% | 500 |
| Peoria | $77K | -24% | 630 |
Compare to other states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 22.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,505/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Illinois?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $101K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Illinois pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Illinois?
The median is $100,520 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,420, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $119,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,177/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 22.8% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $107,107 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.