Police Officer Salary

American Fork vs Salt Lake City: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between American Fork, UT and Salt Lake City, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

American Fork, UT
$79,496
$38.21/hr
Salt Lake City, UT
$83,448
$40.12/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAmerican Fork, UTSalt Lake City, UT
Median Salary$79,496$83,448
Hourly Rate$38.21$40.12
Entry Level (P10)$50,216$64,763
25th Percentile$61,793$68,710
75th Percentile$98,921$99,443
Top Earner (P90)$113,700$105,915
Total Employed62,660
Side-by-side bar chart comparing American Fork ($79,496) and Salt Lake City ($83,448) police officer salaries.American ForkSalt Lake CityMedian Salary$79,496$83,448Entry Level (P10)$50,216$64,763Top Earner (P90)$113,700$105,915US Median $78,542

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to American Fork.

The salary gap between American Fork and Salt Lake City is $3,952 (4.97%). Salt Lake City's median is +6.25% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in American Fork spans $63,484,Salt Lake City spans $41,152. American Fork has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

American Fork
P10 (Entry)$50,216
P25$61,793
Median$79,496
P75$98,921
P90 (Top)$113,700
Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$64,763
P25$68,710
Median$83,448
P75$99,443
P90 (Top)$105,915

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Salt Lake City ($82,730 effective) pays 2.09% more than American Fork ($81,036 effective).

American Fork
Nominal: $79,496
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $81,036
Salt Lake City
Nominal: $83,448
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $82,730

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose American Fork if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($113,700)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($83,448/year)
  • Larger job market (2,660 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $82,730)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in American Fork grew 28.4% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 36.5% growth in Salt Lake City over the same period.

American Fork, UT

+28.4%

$60,095 (2024) → $77,136 (2025)

Salt Lake City, UT

+36.5%

$59,300 (2019) → $80,970 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: American Fork or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a higher median police officer salary at $83,448/year, compared to American Fork at $79,496/year — a difference of $3,952 (4.97%).

What is the hourly rate difference between American Fork and Salt Lake City?

American Fork police officers earn $38.21/hr while Salt Lake City hygienists earn $40.12/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from American Fork to Salt Lake City as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing American Fork and Salt Lake City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: American Fork = $81,036, Salt Lake City = $82,730), job availability (6 vs 2,660 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in American Fork vs Salt Lake City?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $50,216 in American Fork and $64,763 in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City area offers higher starting salaries.
JL

Written by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in law enforcement. They specialize in community policing strategies. Jordan works with a municipal police department.

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.06% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice, a licensed police officer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov