Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Kentucky
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Kentucky is $60,230/year ($28.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Kentucky?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $63K | +5% | 2,290 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $63K | +5% | 1,020 |
| Bowling Green | $61K | +2% | 280 |
| Elizabethtown | $59K | -2% | 220 |
| Paducah | $59K | -3% | 130 |
| Owensboro | $53K | -12% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Kentucky?
The median is $60,230 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,600, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $78,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,002/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 27.7% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median police and sheriff's patrol officers salary is worth about $66,752 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.