Police Officer Salary

Davenport vs North Liberty: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Davenport, IA and North Liberty, IA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Davenport, IA
$70,648
$33.97/hr
North Liberty, IA
$75,385
$36.25/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricDavenport, IANorth Liberty, IA
Median Salary$70,648$75,385
Hourly Rate$33.97$36.25
Entry Level (P10)$48,933$47,496
25th Percentile$63,609$62,756
75th Percentile$81,428$95,381
Top Earner (P90)$94,094$109,394
Total Employed6906
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Davenport ($70,648) and North Liberty ($75,385) police officer salaries.DavenportNorth LibertyMedian Salary$70,648$75,385Entry Level (P10)$48,933$47,496Top Earner (P90)$94,094$109,394US Median $78,542

Verdict

North Liberty, IA offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Davenport.

The salary gap between Davenport and North Liberty is $4,737 (6.71%). North Liberty's median is -4.02% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Davenport spans $45,161,North Liberty spans $61,898. North Liberty has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Davenport
P10 (Entry)$48,933
P25$63,609
Median$70,648
P75$81,428
P90 (Top)$94,094
North Liberty
P10 (Entry)$47,496
P25$62,756
Median$75,385
P75$95,381
P90 (Top)$109,394

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, North Liberty ($83,390 effective) pays 5.15% more than Davenport ($79,309 effective).

Davenport
Nominal: $70,648
CoL Index: 89.079
Adjusted: $79,309
North Liberty
Nominal: $75,385
CoL Index: 90.4
Adjusted: $83,390

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Davenport if…

  • Larger job market (690 employed)
  • You prefer the Iowa area and lifestyle

Choose North Liberty if…

  • Higher median salary ($75,385/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($109,394)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $83,390)
  • You prefer the Iowa area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Davenport grew 12.3% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 32.0% growth in North Liberty over the same period.

Davenport, IA

+12.3%

$61,050 (2019) → $68,550 (2025)

North Liberty, IA

+32.0%

$55,413 (2024) → $73,147 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Davenport or North Liberty?

North Liberty has a higher median police officer salary at $75,385/year, compared to Davenport at $70,648/year — a difference of $4,737 (6.71%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Davenport and North Liberty?

Davenport police officers earn $33.97/hr while North Liberty hygienists earn $36.25/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Davenport to North Liberty as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Davenport and North Liberty. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Davenport = $79,309, North Liberty = $83,390), job availability (690 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Davenport vs North Liberty?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $48,933 in Davenport and $47,496 in North Liberty. The Davenport 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