Police Officer Salary

Orlando vs Winter Garden: Police Officer Salary (2026)

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

Orlando, FL
$64,938
$31.22/hr
Winter Garden, FL
$68,042
$32.71/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricOrlando, FLWinter Garden, FL
Median Salary$64,938$68,042
Hourly Rate$31.22$32.71
Entry Level (P10)$48,954$46,159
25th Percentile$60,517$55,025
75th Percentile$78,913$86,739
Top Earner (P90)$97,216$100,717
Total Employed5,40010
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Orlando ($64,938) and Winter Garden ($68,042) police officer salaries.OrlandoWinter GardenMedian Salary$64,938$68,042Entry Level (P10)$48,954$46,159Top Earner (P90)$97,216$100,717US Median $78,542

Verdict

Winter Garden, FL offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Orlando.

The salary gap between Orlando and Winter Garden is $3,104 (4.78%). Winter Garden's median is -13.37% 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,Winter Garden spans $54,558. Winter Garden 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
Winter Garden
P10 (Entry)$46,159
P25$55,025
Median$68,042
P75$86,739
P90 (Top)$100,717

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Winter Garden ($67,502 effective) pays 5.42% more than Orlando ($64,030 effective).

Orlando
Nominal: $64,938
CoL Index: 101.418
Adjusted: $64,030
Winter Garden
Nominal: $68,042
CoL Index: 100.8
Adjusted: $67,502

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 Winter Garden if…

  • Higher median salary ($68,042/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($100,717)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $67,502)
  • 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 Winter Garden over the same period.

Orlando, FL

+12.9%

$55,790 (2019) → $63,010 (2025)

Winter Garden, FL

+9.5%

$60,279 (2024) → $66,022 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Orlando or Winter Garden?

Winter Garden has a higher median police officer salary at $68,042/year, compared to Orlando at $64,938/year — a difference of $3,104 (4.78%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Orlando and Winter Garden?

Orlando police officers earn $31.22/hr while Winter Garden hygienists earn $32.71/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Orlando to Winter Garden as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Orlando and Winter Garden. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Orlando = $64,030, Winter Garden = $67,502), job availability (5,400 vs 10 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Orlando vs Winter Garden?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $48,954 in Orlando and $46,159 in Winter Garden. 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