Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area is $62,620/year ($30.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers.
So what does $63K get you in Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $28K 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Southwest Montana 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 Montana nonmetropolitan area?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 34.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,440/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 Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,179/month.
Is police and sheriff's patrol officer a high-paying job in Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $63K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -18%.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $62,620 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,980, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $80,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,147/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,440/month, which eats 34.7% 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 Montana nonmetropolitan area?
Southwest Montana 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 $62,620 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.