Police Officer Salary

Lake in the Hills vs Peoria: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Lake in the Hills, IL and Peoria, IL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Lake in the Hills, IL
$80,294
$38.61/hr
Peoria, IL
$79,016
$37.99/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLake in the Hills, ILPeoria, IL
Median Salary$80,294$79,016
Hourly Rate$38.61$37.99
Entry Level (P10)$49,607$50,850
25th Percentile$61,403$60,465
75th Percentile$98,995$99,257
Top Earner (P90)$120,822$108,955
Total Employed6630
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Lake in the Hills ($80,294) and Peoria ($79,016) police officer salaries.Lake in the HillsPeoriaMedian Salary$80,294$79,016Entry Level (P10)$49,607$50,850Top Earner (P90)$120,822$108,955US Median $78,542

Verdict

Lake in the Hills, IL offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Peoria.

The salary gap between Lake in the Hills and Peoria is $1,278 (1.62%). Lake in the Hills's median is +2.23% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Lake in the Hills spans $71,215,Peoria spans $58,105. Lake in the Hills has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Lake in the Hills
P10 (Entry)$49,607
P25$61,403
Median$80,294
P75$98,995
P90 (Top)$120,822
Peoria
P10 (Entry)$50,850
P25$60,465
Median$79,016
P75$99,257
P90 (Top)$108,955

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Peoria ($86,611 effective) pays 4.74% more than Lake in the Hills ($82,692 effective).

Lake in the Hills
Nominal: $80,294
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $82,692
Peoria
Nominal: $79,016
CoL Index: 91.231
Adjusted: $86,611

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Lake in the Hills if…

  • Higher median salary ($80,294/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($120,822)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Choose Peoria if…

  • Larger job market (630 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $86,611)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Lake in the Hills grew 0.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 67.5% growth in Peoria over the same period.

Lake in the Hills, IL

+0.0%

$77,873 (2024) → $77,910 (2025)

Peoria, IL

+67.5%

$45,760 (2019) → $76,670 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Lake in the Hills or Peoria?

Lake in the Hills has a higher median police officer salary at $80,294/year, compared to Peoria at $79,016/year — a difference of $1,278 (1.62%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Lake in the Hills and Peoria?

Lake in the Hills police officers earn $38.61/hr while Peoria hygienists earn $37.99/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Lake in the Hills to Peoria as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Lake in the Hills and Peoria. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Lake in the Hills = $82,692, Peoria = $86,611), job availability (6 vs 630 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Lake in the Hills vs Peoria?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $49,607 in Lake in the Hills and $50,850 in Peoria. The Peoria 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