Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Wisconsin is $78,090/year ($37.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $82,784 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Wisconsin?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 23.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $82K | +5% | 3,660 |
| Green Bay | $81K | +4% | 580 |
| Madison | $81K | +3% | 1,600 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $80K | +3% | 330 |
| Fond du Lac | $80K | +2% | 230 |
| Kenosha | $79K | +1% | 360 |
| Wausau | $78K | +0% | 250 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $78K | -0% | 420 |
| Appleton | $78K | -1% | 340 |
| Sheboygan | $77K | -2% | 200 |
| Eau Claire | $75K | -3% | 310 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $74K | -5% | 360 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $74K | -5% | 290 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 23.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
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 $3,512/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Wisconsin pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $78,090 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,530, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $94,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,019/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 23.9% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $82,784 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.