Police Officer Salary

Denver vs Greeley: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Denver, CO and Greeley, CO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Denver, CO
$105,090
$50.52/hr
Greeley, CO
$99,577
$47.87/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricDenver, COGreeley, CO
Median Salary$105,090$99,577
Hourly Rate$50.52$47.87
Entry Level (P10)$78,985$77,573
25th Percentile$86,148$79,634
75th Percentile$109,295$103,132
Top Earner (P90)$117,107$104,915
Total Employed4,990460
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Denver ($105,090) and Greeley ($99,577) police officer salaries.DenverGreeleyMedian Salary$105,090$99,577Entry Level (P10)$78,985$77,573Top Earner (P90)$117,107$104,915US Median $78,542

Verdict

Denver, CO offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Greeley.

The salary gap between Denver and Greeley is $5,513 (5.54%). Denver's median is +33.80% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Denver spans $38,122,Greeley spans $27,342. Denver has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Denver
P10 (Entry)$78,985
P25$86,148
Median$105,090
P75$109,295
P90 (Top)$117,107
Greeley
P10 (Entry)$77,573
P25$79,634
Median$99,577
P75$103,132
P90 (Top)$104,915

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Greeley ($99,402 effective) pays 0.06% more than Denver ($99,346 effective).

Denver
Nominal: $105,090
CoL Index: 105.782
Adjusted: $99,346
Greeley
Nominal: $99,577
CoL Index: 100.176
Adjusted: $99,402

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Denver if…

  • Higher median salary ($105,090/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($117,107)
  • Larger job market (4,990 employed)
  • You prefer the Colorado area and lifestyle

Choose Greeley if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $99,402)
  • You prefer the Colorado area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Denver grew 20.2% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 29.4% growth in Greeley over the same period.

Denver, CO

+20.2%

$84,840 (2019) → $101,970 (2025)

Greeley, CO

+29.4%

$74,690 (2019) → $96,620 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Denver or Greeley?

Denver has a higher median police officer salary at $105,090/year, compared to Greeley at $99,577/year — a difference of $5,513 (5.54%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Denver and Greeley?

Denver police officers earn $50.52/hr while Greeley hygienists earn $47.87/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Denver to Greeley as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Denver and Greeley. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Denver = $99,346, Greeley = $99,402), job availability (4,990 vs 460 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Denver vs Greeley?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $78,985 in Denver and $77,573 in Greeley. The Denver 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