Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Maryland is $77,970/year ($37.49/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $78,949 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 35.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Maryland?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Maryland
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in Maryland tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,795/month, which is 36.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $55K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Maryland
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | $80K | +2% | 300 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $77K | -2% | 4,600 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $66K | -15% | 360 |
| Salisbury | $59K | -25% | 320 |
Compare to other states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 36.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Maryland?
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 $3,515/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Maryland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Maryland pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Maryland?
The median is $77,970 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,580, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $113,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,976/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 36.1% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $78,949 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.