Police Officer Salary

Salt Lake City vs South Jordan: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Salt Lake City, UT and South Jordan, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Salt Lake City, UT
$83,448
$40.12/hr
South Jordan, UT
$80,990
$38.94/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalt Lake City, UTSouth Jordan, UT
Median Salary$83,448$80,990
Hourly Rate$40.12$38.94
Entry Level (P10)$64,763$49,717
25th Percentile$68,710$61,823
75th Percentile$99,443$102,272
Top Earner (P90)$105,915$118,913
Total Employed2,66019
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salt Lake City ($83,448) and South Jordan ($80,990) police officer salaries.Salt Lake CitySouth JordanMedian Salary$83,448$80,990Entry Level (P10)$64,763$49,717Top Earner (P90)$105,915$118,913US Median $78,542

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to South Jordan.

The salary gap between Salt Lake City and South Jordan is $2,458 (3.03%). Salt Lake City's median is +6.25% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salt Lake City spans $41,152,South Jordan spans $69,196. South Jordan has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$64,763
P25$68,710
Median$83,448
P75$99,443
P90 (Top)$105,915
South Jordan
P10 (Entry)$49,717
P25$61,823
Median$80,990
P75$102,272
P90 (Top)$118,913

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Salt Lake City ($82,730 effective) pays 0.21% more than South Jordan ($82,559 effective).

Salt Lake City
Nominal: $83,448
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $82,730
South Jordan
Nominal: $80,990
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $82,559

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($83,448/year)
  • Larger job market (2,660 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $82,730)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose South Jordan if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($118,913)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Salt Lake City grew 36.5% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 28.4% growth in South Jordan over the same period.

Salt Lake City, UT

+36.5%

$59,300 (2019) → $80,970 (2025)

South Jordan, UT

+28.4%

$61,223 (2024) → $78,585 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Salt Lake City or South Jordan?

Salt Lake City has a higher median police officer salary at $83,448/year, compared to South Jordan at $80,990/year — a difference of $2,458 (3.03%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salt Lake City and South Jordan?

Salt Lake City police officers earn $40.12/hr while South Jordan hygienists earn $38.94/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salt Lake City to South Jordan as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salt Lake City and South Jordan. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salt Lake City = $82,730, South Jordan = $82,559), job availability (2,660 vs 19 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Salt Lake City vs South Jordan?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $64,763 in Salt Lake City and $49,717 in South Jordan. The Salt Lake City 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