Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area is $70,800/year ($34.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers.
So what does $71K get you in Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $119K | +56% | 65,940 |
| Washington | $102K | +34% | 9,160 |
| Illinois | $101K | +32% | 29,180 |
| Alaska | $99K | +30% | 1,260 |
| Colorado | $97K | +28% | 9,610 |
| Delaware | $93K | +22% | 1,800 |
| New York | $93K | +22% | 53,470 |
| New Jersey | $93K | +22% | 21,780 |
| District of Columbia | $89K | +16% | 4,720 |
| Oregon | $88K | +16% | 5,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $85K | +12% | 26,510 |
| Hawaii | $84K | +10% | 2,420 |
| Minnesota | $83K | +9% | 9,160 |
| Connecticut | $82K | +8% | 6,500 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +4% | 17,040 |
| Arizona | $79K | +4% | 12,010 |
| Nevada | $78K | +3% | 5,720 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | +2% | 12,320 |
| Maryland | $78K | +2% | 9,720 |
| Utah | $77K | +1% | 5,500 |
| Rhode Island | $77K | +1% | 1,940 |
| Ohio | $77K | +1% | 23,430 |
| Texas | $76K | -0% | 63,100 |
| Nebraska | $75K | -2% | 3,490 |
| North Dakota | $75K | -2% | 1,630 |
| Florida | $74K | -2% | 43,630 |
| Iowa | $74K | -2% | 5,130 |
| Michigan | $74K | -3% | 16,750 |
| Indiana | $73K | -4% | 12,980 |
| New Hampshire | $72K | -6% | 2,460 |
| Montana | $70K | -8% | 2,160 |
| New Mexico | $69K | -9% | 4,580 |
| Vermont | $69K | -10% | 1,020 |
| Maine | $67K | -12% | 2,120 |
| Idaho | $67K | -12% | 2,810 |
| Wyoming | $66K | -13% | 1,310 |
| Virginia | $66K | -14% | 19,970 |
| South Dakota | $61K | -20% | 2,000 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -21% | 7,890 |
| Oklahoma | $60K | -22% | 9,660 |
| Missouri | $59K | -22% | 13,570 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -22% | 22,370 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -22% | 15,630 |
| Kansas | $59K | -22% | 6,130 |
| Georgia | $58K | -24% | 22,170 |
| South Carolina | $58K | -24% | 12,930 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -25% | 2,900 |
| Alabama | $51K | -33% | 11,710 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -37% | 12,400 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -37% | 5,710 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -39% | 8,070 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 44.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,149/month.
Is police and sheriff's patrol officer a high-paying job in Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -7%.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $70,800 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,480, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $101,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,590/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 44.5% 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 Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area?
Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median police and sheriff's patrol officers salary is worth about $70,800 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.