Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in North Carolina is $59,300/year ($28.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $63,997 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in North Carolina?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in North Carolina runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $66K | +11% | 2,430 |
| Burlington | $66K | +11% | 370 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $63K | +7% | 5,770 |
| Rocky Mount | $63K | +6% | 390 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $61K | +3% | 1,700 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $60K | +1% | 1,040 |
| Jacksonville | $60K | +0% | 440 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $59K | -1% | 170 |
| Asheville | $58K | -2% | 710 |
| Winston-Salem | $57K | -3% | 1,310 |
| Greenville | $57K | -4% | 520 |
| Wilmington | $54K | -10% | 1,210 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $52K | -12% | 770 |
| Fayetteville | $48K | -19% | 740 |
| Goldsboro | $47K | -21% | 210 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 32.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,762/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $59K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
North Carolina pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in North Carolina?
The median is $59,300 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,040, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $80,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,918/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 32.8% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $63,997 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.