Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Ohio is $77,020/year ($37.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $84,221 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Ohio?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 23.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $101K | +31% | 5,190 |
| Cincinnati | $80K | +4% | 3,900 |
| Cleveland | $80K | +4% | 5,200 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $76K | -1% | 1,440 |
| Akron | $75K | -3% | 1,610 |
| Toledo | $74K | -4% | 1,230 |
| Sandusky | $71K | -8% | 320 |
| Canton-Massillon | $64K | -16% | 510 |
| Springfield | $63K | -18% | 170 |
| Lima | $62K | -19% | 180 |
| Mansfield | $60K | -23% | 210 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $59K | -23% | 750 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 23.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,067/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Ohio pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Ohio?
The median is $77,020 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,110, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $103,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,095/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 23.3% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $84,221 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.