Police Officer Salary

Cincinnati vs Cuyahoga Falls: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Cincinnati, OH and Cuyahoga Falls, OH. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Cincinnati, OH
$82,871
$39.84/hr
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
$74,596
$35.86/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCincinnati, OHCuyahoga Falls, OH
Median Salary$82,871$74,596
Hourly Rate$39.84$35.86
Entry Level (P10)$58,816$45,162
25th Percentile$66,886$56,698
75th Percentile$98,216$93,839
Top Earner (P90)$101,648$109,310
Total Employed3,90011
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Cincinnati ($82,871) and Cuyahoga Falls ($74,596) police officer salaries.CincinnatiCuyahoga FallsMedian Salary$82,871$74,596Entry Level (P10)$58,816$45,162Top Earner (P90)$101,648$109,310US Median $78,542

Verdict

Cincinnati, OH offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Cuyahoga Falls.

The salary gap between Cincinnati and Cuyahoga Falls is $8,275 (11.09%). Cincinnati's median is +5.51% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Cincinnati spans $42,832,Cuyahoga Falls spans $64,148. Cuyahoga Falls has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Cincinnati
P10 (Entry)$58,816
P25$66,886
Median$82,871
P75$98,216
P90 (Top)$101,648
Cuyahoga Falls
P10 (Entry)$45,162
P25$56,698
Median$74,596
P75$93,839
P90 (Top)$109,310

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Cincinnati ($86,894 effective) pays 5.65% more than Cuyahoga Falls ($82,245 effective).

Cincinnati
Nominal: $82,871
CoL Index: 95.37
Adjusted: $86,894
Cuyahoga Falls
Nominal: $74,596
CoL Index: 90.7
Adjusted: $82,245

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Cincinnati if…

  • Higher median salary ($82,871/year)
  • Larger job market (3,900 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $86,894)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Choose Cuyahoga Falls if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($109,310)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Cincinnati grew 16.4% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 16.9% growth in Cuyahoga Falls over the same period.

Cincinnati, OH

+16.4%

$69,110 (2019) → $80,410 (2025)

Cuyahoga Falls, OH

+16.9%

$61,917 (2024) → $72,381 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Cincinnati or Cuyahoga Falls?

Cincinnati has a higher median police officer salary at $82,871/year, compared to Cuyahoga Falls at $74,596/year — a difference of $8,275 (11.09%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Cincinnati and Cuyahoga Falls?

Cincinnati police officers earn $39.84/hr while Cuyahoga Falls hygienists earn $35.86/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Cincinnati to Cuyahoga Falls as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Cincinnati and Cuyahoga Falls. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Cincinnati = $86,894, Cuyahoga Falls = $82,245), job availability (3,900 vs 11 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Cincinnati vs Cuyahoga Falls?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $58,816 in Cincinnati and $45,162 in Cuyahoga Falls. The Cincinnati 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