Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Iowa is $74,470/year ($35.81/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $83,806 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 21.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $74K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $82K | +10% | 1,240 |
| Cedar Rapids | $79K | +6% | 450 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $79K | +6% | 310 |
| Sioux City | $79K | +6% | 220 |
| Iowa City | $76K | +2% | 320 |
| Ames | $74K | -1% | 150 |
| Dubuque | $72K | -3% | 170 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $69K | -8% | 690 |
Compare to other states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/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 Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,562/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is police and sheriff's patrol officer a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Iowa pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Iowa?
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 $59,360, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $101,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,746/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 22.4% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $83,806 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.