Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in New Hampshire is $71,640/year ($34.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.66), so that salary is closer to $67,802 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,528/month, about 30.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Hampshire. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in New Hampshire?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in New Hampshire
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in New Hampshire tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,528/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.66), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Hampshire
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in New Hampshire
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua | $74K | +3% | 740 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Hampshire numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Hampshire?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 31.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,528/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 New Hampshire?
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 $3,476/month. At HUD’s $1,528/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 New Hampshire?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does New Hampshire compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
New Hampshire pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — below the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in New Hampshire?
The median is $71,640 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,930, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $89,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in New Hampshire?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,899/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,528/month, which eats 31.2% 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 New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has a Regional Price Parity of 105.66 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median police and sheriff's patrol officers salary is worth about $67,802 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.