Police Officer Salary

Charlotte vs Holly Springs: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Charlotte, NC and Holly Springs, NC. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Charlotte, NC
$65,124
$31.31/hr
Holly Springs, NC
$58,235
$28.00/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCharlotte, NCHolly Springs, NC
Median Salary$65,124$58,235
Hourly Rate$31.31$28.00
Entry Level (P10)$51,375$39,544
25th Percentile$61,115$45,828
75th Percentile$81,345$74,353
Top Earner (P90)$97,320$86,101
Total Employed5,77010
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Charlotte ($65,124) and Holly Springs ($58,235) police officer salaries.CharlotteHolly SpringsMedian Salary$65,124$58,235Entry Level (P10)$51,375$39,544Top Earner (P90)$97,320$86,101US Median $78,542

Verdict

Charlotte, NC offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Holly Springs.

The salary gap between Charlotte and Holly Springs is $6,889 (11.83%). Charlotte's median is -17.08% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Charlotte spans $45,945,Holly Springs spans $46,557. Holly Springs has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Charlotte
P10 (Entry)$51,375
P25$61,115
Median$65,124
P75$81,345
P90 (Top)$97,320
Holly Springs
P10 (Entry)$39,544
P25$45,828
Median$58,235
P75$74,353
P90 (Top)$86,101

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Charlotte ($66,898 effective) pays 7.52% more than Holly Springs ($62,217 effective).

Charlotte
Nominal: $65,124
CoL Index: 97.348
Adjusted: $66,898
Holly Springs
Nominal: $58,235
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $62,217

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Charlotte if…

  • Higher median salary ($65,124/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($97,320)
  • Larger job market (5,770 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $66,898)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Choose Holly Springs if…

  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Charlotte grew 26.0% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 20.3% growth in Holly Springs over the same period.

Charlotte, NC

+26.0%

$50,160 (2019) → $63,190 (2025)

Holly Springs, NC

+20.3%

$46,964 (2024) → $56,506 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Charlotte or Holly Springs?

Charlotte has a higher median police officer salary at $65,124/year, compared to Holly Springs at $58,235/year — a difference of $6,889 (11.83%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Charlotte and Holly Springs?

Charlotte police officers earn $31.31/hr while Holly Springs hygienists earn $28.00/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Charlotte to Holly Springs as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Charlotte and Holly Springs. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Charlotte = $66,898, Holly Springs = $62,217), job availability (5,770 vs 10 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Charlotte vs Holly Springs?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $51,375 in Charlotte and $39,544 in Holly Springs. The Charlotte 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