Police Officer Salary

Orlando vs Royal Palm Beach: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Orlando, FL and Royal Palm Beach, FL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Orlando, FL
$64,938
$31.22/hr
Royal Palm Beach, FL
$69,597
$33.46/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricOrlando, FLRoyal Palm Beach, FL
Median Salary$64,938$69,597
Hourly Rate$31.22$33.46
Entry Level (P10)$48,954$44,082
25th Percentile$60,517$53,969
75th Percentile$78,913$87,978
Top Earner (P90)$97,216$101,800
Total Employed5,4006
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Orlando ($64,938) and Royal Palm Beach ($69,597) police officer salaries.OrlandoRoyal Palm BeachMedian Salary$64,938$69,597Entry Level (P10)$48,954$44,082Top Earner (P90)$97,216$101,800US Median $78,542

Verdict

Royal Palm Beach, FL offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Orlando.

The salary gap between Orlando and Royal Palm Beach is $4,659 (7.17%). Royal Palm Beach's median is -11.39% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Orlando spans $48,262,Royal Palm Beach spans $57,718. Royal Palm Beach has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Orlando
P10 (Entry)$48,954
P25$60,517
Median$64,938
P75$78,913
P90 (Top)$97,216
Royal Palm Beach
P10 (Entry)$44,082
P25$53,969
Median$69,597
P75$87,978
P90 (Top)$101,800

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Royal Palm Beach ($69,045 effective) pays 7.83% more than Orlando ($64,030 effective).

Orlando
Nominal: $64,938
CoL Index: 101.418
Adjusted: $64,030
Royal Palm Beach
Nominal: $69,597
CoL Index: 100.8
Adjusted: $69,045

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Orlando if…

  • Larger job market (5,400 employed)
  • You prefer the Florida area and lifestyle

Choose Royal Palm Beach if…

  • Higher median salary ($69,597/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($101,800)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $69,045)
  • You prefer the Florida area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Orlando grew 12.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 9.5% growth in Royal Palm Beach over the same period.

Orlando, FL

+12.9%

$55,790 (2019) → $63,010 (2025)

Royal Palm Beach, FL

+9.5%

$61,657 (2024) → $67,531 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Orlando or Royal Palm Beach?

Royal Palm Beach has a higher median police officer salary at $69,597/year, compared to Orlando at $64,938/year — a difference of $4,659 (7.17%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Orlando and Royal Palm Beach?

Orlando police officers earn $31.22/hr while Royal Palm Beach hygienists earn $33.46/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Orlando to Royal Palm Beach as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Orlando and Royal Palm Beach. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Orlando = $64,030, Royal Palm Beach = $69,045), job availability (5,400 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Orlando vs Royal Palm Beach?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $48,954 in Orlando and $44,082 in Royal Palm Beach. The Orlando 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