Police Officer Salary

Orland Park vs Rockford: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Orland Park, IL and Rockford, IL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Orland Park, IL
$83,244
$40.02/hr
Rockford, IL
$80,912
$38.91/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricOrland Park, ILRockford, IL
Median Salary$83,244$80,912
Hourly Rate$40.02$38.91
Entry Level (P10)$52,092$62,784
25th Percentile$64,287$74,780
75th Percentile$105,732$95,949
Top Earner (P90)$123,674$111,006
Total Employed9500
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Orland Park ($83,244) and Rockford ($80,912) police officer salaries.Orland ParkRockfordMedian Salary$83,244$80,912Entry Level (P10)$52,092$62,784Top Earner (P90)$123,674$111,006US Median $78,542

Verdict

Orland Park, IL offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Rockford.

The salary gap between Orland Park and Rockford is $2,332 (2.88%). Orland Park's median is +5.99% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Orland Park spans $71,582,Rockford spans $48,222. Orland Park has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Orland Park
P10 (Entry)$52,092
P25$64,287
Median$83,244
P75$105,732
P90 (Top)$123,674
Rockford
P10 (Entry)$62,784
P25$74,780
Median$80,912
P75$95,949
P90 (Top)$111,006

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Rockford ($87,801 effective) pays 2.42% more than Orland Park ($85,730 effective).

Orland Park
Nominal: $83,244
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $85,730
Rockford
Nominal: $80,912
CoL Index: 92.154
Adjusted: $87,801

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Orland Park if…

  • Higher median salary ($83,244/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($123,674)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Choose Rockford if…

  • Larger job market (500 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $87,801)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Orland Park grew 0.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 8.7% growth in Rockford over the same period.

Orland Park, IL

+0.0%

$80,733 (2024) → $80,772 (2025)

Rockford, IL

+8.7%

$72,250 (2019) → $78,510 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Orland Park or Rockford?

Orland Park has a higher median police officer salary at $83,244/year, compared to Rockford at $80,912/year — a difference of $2,332 (2.88%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Orland Park and Rockford?

Orland Park police officers earn $40.02/hr while Rockford hygienists earn $38.91/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Orland Park to Rockford as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Orland Park and Rockford. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Orland Park = $85,730, Rockford = $87,801), job availability (9 vs 500 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Orland Park vs Rockford?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $52,092 in Orland Park and $62,784 in Rockford. The Rockford 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