Police Officer Salary

Salisbury vs Silver Spring: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Salisbury, MD and Silver Spring, MD. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Salisbury, MD
$60,373
$29.02/hr
Silver Spring, MD
$83,653
$40.21/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalisbury, MDSilver Spring, MD
Median Salary$60,373$83,653
Hourly Rate$29.02$40.21
Entry Level (P10)$49,551$53,697
25th Percentile$58,497$65,614
75th Percentile$87,653$107,075
Top Earner (P90)$106,677$125,968
Total Employed32012
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salisbury ($60,373) and Silver Spring ($83,653) police officer salaries.SalisburySilver SpringMedian Salary$60,373$83,653Entry Level (P10)$49,551$53,697Top Earner (P90)$106,677$125,968US Median $78,542

Verdict

Silver Spring, MD offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Salisbury.

The salary gap between Salisbury and Silver Spring is $23,280 (38.56%). Silver Spring's median is +6.51% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salisbury spans $57,126,Silver Spring spans $72,271. Silver Spring has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Salisbury
P10 (Entry)$49,551
P25$58,497
Median$60,373
P75$87,653
P90 (Top)$106,677
Silver Spring
P10 (Entry)$53,697
P25$65,614
Median$83,653
P75$107,075
P90 (Top)$125,968

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Silver Spring ($76,535 effective) pays 21.21% more than Salisbury ($63,140 effective).

Salisbury
Nominal: $60,373
CoL Index: 95.617
Adjusted: $63,140
Silver Spring
Nominal: $83,653
CoL Index: 109.3
Adjusted: $76,535

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salisbury if…

  • Larger job market (320 employed)
  • You prefer the Maryland area and lifestyle

Choose Silver Spring if…

  • Higher median salary ($83,653/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($125,968)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $76,535)
  • You prefer the Maryland area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Salisbury grew 1.3% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -2.3% growth in Silver Spring over the same period.

Salisbury, MD

+1.3%

$57,830 (2019) → $58,580 (2025)

Silver Spring, MD

+-2.3%

$83,075 (2024) → $81,169 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Salisbury or Silver Spring?

Silver Spring has a higher median police officer salary at $83,653/year, compared to Salisbury at $60,373/year — a difference of $23,280 (38.56%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salisbury and Silver Spring?

Salisbury police officers earn $29.02/hr while Silver Spring hygienists earn $40.21/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salisbury to Silver Spring as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salisbury and Silver Spring. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salisbury = $63,140, Silver Spring = $76,535), job availability (320 vs 12 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Salisbury vs Silver Spring?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $49,551 in Salisbury and $53,697 in Silver Spring. The Silver Spring area offers higher starting salaries.
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