Police Officer Salary

Cincinnati vs Grove City: Police Officer Salary (2026)

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

Cincinnati, OH
$82,871
$39.84/hr
Grove City, OH
$73,435
$35.31/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCincinnati, OHGrove City, OH
Median Salary$82,871$73,435
Hourly Rate$39.84$35.31
Entry Level (P10)$58,816$46,726
25th Percentile$66,886$57,102
75th Percentile$98,216$91,400
Top Earner (P90)$101,648$105,066
Total Employed3,9007
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Cincinnati ($82,871) and Grove City ($73,435) police officer salaries.CincinnatiGrove CityMedian Salary$82,871$73,435Entry Level (P10)$58,816$46,726Top Earner (P90)$101,648$105,066US Median $78,542

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Cincinnati and Grove City is $9,436 (12.85%). 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,Grove City spans $58,340. Grove City 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
Grove City
P10 (Entry)$46,726
P25$57,102
Median$73,435
P75$91,400
P90 (Top)$105,066

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Cincinnati ($86,894 effective) pays 7.32% more than Grove City ($80,965 effective).

Cincinnati
Nominal: $82,871
CoL Index: 95.37
Adjusted: $86,894
Grove City
Nominal: $73,435
CoL Index: 90.7
Adjusted: $80,965

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 Grove City if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($105,066)
  • 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 Grove City over the same period.

Cincinnati, OH

+16.4%

$69,110 (2019) → $80,410 (2025)

Grove City, OH

+16.9%

$60,953 (2024) → $71,255 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Cincinnati or Grove City?

Cincinnati has a higher median police officer salary at $82,871/year, compared to Grove City at $73,435/year — a difference of $9,436 (12.85%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Cincinnati and Grove City?

Cincinnati police officers earn $39.84/hr while Grove City hygienists earn $35.31/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Cincinnati to Grove City as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Cincinnati and Grove City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Cincinnati = $86,894, Grove City = $80,965), job availability (3,900 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Cincinnati vs Grove City?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $58,816 in Cincinnati and $46,726 in Grove City. 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