Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Rhode Island is $77,230/year ($37.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $75,887 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 30.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Rhode Island?
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in Rhode Island tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,544/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $77K | -0% | 3,120 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 30.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/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 Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,541/month. At HUD’s $1,544/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 Rhode Island?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Rhode Island pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Rhode Island?
The median is $77,230 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,020, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $91,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,017/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 30.8% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $75,887 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.