Police Officer Salary

Miami vs Port St. Lucie: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Miami, FL and Port St. Lucie, FL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Miami, FL
$82,283
$39.55/hr
Port St. Lucie, FL
$79,428
$38.18/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricMiami, FLPort St. Lucie, FL
Median Salary$82,283$79,428
Hourly Rate$39.55$38.18
Entry Level (P10)$63,485$63,804
25th Percentile$76,161$69,432
75th Percentile$100,731$98,670
Top Earner (P90)$119,230$101,741
Total Employed14,7101,030
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Miami ($82,283) and Port St. Lucie ($79,428) police officer salaries.MiamiPort St. LucieMedian Salary$82,283$79,428Entry Level (P10)$63,485$63,804Top Earner (P90)$119,230$101,741US Median $78,542

Verdict

Miami, FL offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Port St. Lucie.

The salary gap between Miami and Port St. Lucie is $2,855 (3.59%). Miami's median is +4.76% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Miami spans $55,745,Port St. Lucie spans $37,937. Miami has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Miami
P10 (Entry)$63,485
P25$76,161
Median$82,283
P75$100,731
P90 (Top)$119,230
Port St. Lucie
P10 (Entry)$63,804
P25$69,432
Median$79,428
P75$98,670
P90 (Top)$101,741

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Port St. Lucie ($79,247 effective) pays 9.94% more than Miami ($72,080 effective).

Miami
Nominal: $82,283
CoL Index: 114.155
Adjusted: $72,080
Port St. Lucie
Nominal: $79,428
CoL Index: 100.228
Adjusted: $79,247

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Miami if…

  • Higher median salary ($82,283/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($119,230)
  • Larger job market (14,710 employed)
  • You prefer the Florida area and lifestyle

Choose Port St. Lucie if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $79,247)
  • You prefer the Florida area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Miami grew 11.6% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 60.4% growth in Port St. Lucie over the same period.

Miami, FL

+11.6%

$71,550 (2019) → $79,840 (2025)

Port St. Lucie, FL

+60.4%

$48,040 (2019) → $77,070 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Miami or Port St. Lucie?

Miami has a higher median police officer salary at $82,283/year, compared to Port St. Lucie at $79,428/year — a difference of $2,855 (3.59%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Miami and Port St. Lucie?

Miami police officers earn $39.55/hr while Port St. Lucie hygienists earn $38.18/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Miami to Port St. Lucie as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Miami and Port St. Lucie. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Miami = $72,080, Port St. Lucie = $79,247), job availability (14,710 vs 1,030 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Miami vs Port St. Lucie?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $63,485 in Miami and $63,804 in Port St. Lucie. The Port St. Lucie 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