Curtis
how much does a beginning police officer make
in the future i would like to become a police officer and i would like to learn the ways of one who's experienced in this field so that it would prepared of the difficulty's that can occur within this profession. #police-and-law-enforcement
2 answers
Kim Igleheart
Kim’s Answer
Curtis,
This really depends on where the person is working. I have seen entry-level salaries in small, poor towns that are barely above minimum wage. Large cities pay around $45,000 or so, here in Texas. I imagine NYPD pays more. Most agencies post salaries on their recruiting websites.
When looking at police salary figures, there are a lot of "Extras" you also want to look at, which may or may not be covered:
education or degree pay:
POST pay: for intermediate and advanced police certifications
shift differential: for working afternoon or midnight shift
holiday pay: for having to work holidays - sometimes get paid double or triple
court pay:
bilingual pay:
clothing allowance:
Special assignments: K9, bike patrol, field training officer, classroom instructor, helicopter spotter, armorer, firearms instructor, etc, etc, etc
If the police dept has a union collective bargaining agreement, it will control things such as promotional opportunities and shift assignments, so you will want to look it over.
Not all depts will offer these things. But, if you are comparing the pay between 2 different depts, you will want to take these factors into consideration, as the one that pays less just might really pay more! You will also want to consider the cost of living. You cannot compare salaries in Phoenix with salaries in NY, as the rent and everything else is higher in NY. There are websites called "cost of living calculators" that will help you make this comparison.
I hope this helps! The difficulties in the job have to do with the irregular hours, missing out on spending time with family and friends because you have to work, and things like that. You will bond with your fellow officers, and look out for each other. I enjoyed my career, and would not trade the experience for anything!
Shawn Braxton
Shawn’s Answer
Hello Curtis,
Kim is correct with her advice. I was a police office in Washington DC and the starting salary there is approximately $50,000. Yet some of the surrounding jurisdictions are lower in salary. It all depends on the location. Starting salaries also vary depending on the income level for the area you are applying. The cost of living is higher in large cities that in a rural area. It all depends on where you want to work.