Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in New Jersey is $92,610/year ($44.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $93,225 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 35.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $93K get you in New Jersey?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for police and sheriff's patrol officers, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $76K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 35.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in New Jersey
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $77K | -17% | 1,100 |
| Trenton-Princeton | $69K | -25% | 840 |
| Vineland | $68K | -27% | 260 |
Compare to other states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 35.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 Jersey?
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 $3,464/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Jersey?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $93K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
New Jersey pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in New Jersey?
The median is $92,610 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,740, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $134,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,814/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 35.6% 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 Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $93,225 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.