Police Officer Salary

Austintown vs Cleveland: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Austintown, OH and Cleveland, OH. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Austintown, OH
$70,523
$33.91/hr
Cleveland, OH
$82,737
$39.77/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAustintown, OHCleveland, OH
Median Salary$70,523$82,737
Hourly Rate$33.91$39.77
Entry Level (P10)$45,692$52,901
25th Percentile$55,663$72,647
75th Percentile$88,575$84,571
Top Earner (P90)$102,212$96,217
Total Employed75,200
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Austintown ($70,523) and Cleveland ($82,737) police officer salaries.AustintownClevelandMedian Salary$70,523$82,737Entry Level (P10)$45,692$52,901Top Earner (P90)$102,212$96,217US Median $78,542

Verdict

Cleveland, OH offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Austintown.

The salary gap between Austintown and Cleveland is $12,214 (17.32%). Cleveland's median is +5.34% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Austintown spans $56,520,Cleveland spans $43,316. Austintown has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Austintown
P10 (Entry)$45,692
P25$55,663
Median$70,523
P75$88,575
P90 (Top)$102,212
Cleveland
P10 (Entry)$52,901
P25$72,647
Median$82,737
P75$84,571
P90 (Top)$96,217

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Cleveland ($88,090 effective) pays 13.29% more than Austintown ($77,754 effective).

Austintown
Nominal: $70,523
CoL Index: 90.7
Adjusted: $77,754
Cleveland
Nominal: $82,737
CoL Index: 93.923
Adjusted: $88,090

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Austintown if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($102,212)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Choose Cleveland if…

  • Higher median salary ($82,737/year)
  • Larger job market (5,200 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $88,090)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Austintown grew 16.9% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 31.6% growth in Cleveland over the same period.

Austintown, OH

+16.9%

$58,536 (2024) → $68,429 (2025)

Cleveland, OH

+31.6%

$61,010 (2019) → $80,280 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Austintown or Cleveland?

Cleveland has a higher median police officer salary at $82,737/year, compared to Austintown at $70,523/year — a difference of $12,214 (17.32%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Austintown and Cleveland?

Austintown police officers earn $33.91/hr while Cleveland hygienists earn $39.77/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Austintown to Cleveland as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Austintown and Cleveland. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Austintown = $77,754, Cleveland = $88,090), job availability (7 vs 5,200 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Austintown vs Cleveland?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $45,692 in Austintown and $52,901 in Cleveland. The Cleveland area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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