Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Pennsylvania is $85,470/year ($41.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $89,997 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Pennsylvania?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for police and sheriff's patrol officers, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $76K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Pennsylvania offers a genuinely strong financial position for police and sheriff's patrol officerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg | $92K | +7% | 230 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $90K | +5% | 13,160 |
| Reading | $87K | +2% | 690 |
| Lancaster | $87K | +2% | 760 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $85K | -1% | 1,610 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $84K | -1% | 1,480 |
| Pittsburgh | $83K | -3% | 5,080 |
| Erie | $81K | -5% | 660 |
| York-Hanover | $80K | -7% | 630 |
| Lebanon | $79K | -7% | 210 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $72K | -16% | 1,360 |
| Chambersburg | $71K | -17% | 250 |
| Altoona | $71K | -17% | 240 |
| State College | $71K | -18% | 360 |
| Williamsport | $67K | -22% | 230 |
| Johnstown | $59K | -31% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,921/month. At HUD’s $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $85K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Pennsylvania pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $85,470 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,680, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $109,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,491/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 24.6% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $89,997 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.