Police Officer Hourly Pay in Tucson, AZ: $38.13 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Tucson, AZ runs $38.13 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $79,325 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Tucson's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.9, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $39.35 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $47,589 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Tucson, Arizona, the police officer hourly pay is projected to reach a median of $38.13 in 2026, slightly surpassing the national median of $37.76. For part-time officers working three days a week, this translates into opportunities for significant earnings while balancing other commitments. The typical settings for officers range from the streets patrolling assigned beats to specialized roles in booking rooms and courtrooms. The hourly pay for entry-level officers starts at approximately $28.73, while experienced professionals, especially those in specialized units or with seniority, can earn as much as $49.80. This hourly data is drawn from 2025 BLS OEWS figures, projecting into 2026, offering a clear picture of the financial landscape for law enforcement careers in Tucson.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $28.73 | $229.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $31.53 | $252.21 |
| Median (P50) | $38.13 | $305.06 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $43.29 | $346.28 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $49.80 | $398.39 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Tucson
Based on $38.13/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $38.13/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Tucson, AZ can expect to earn approximately $79,315 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $45,759. With a cost-of-living index of 96.90 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Tucson.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Tucson
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,525.29 | $6,610 | $79,315 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $915.17 | $3,966 | $47,589 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $610.12 | $2,644 | $31,726 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Tucson) | $38.13 |
| Firefighter (National Avg) | $28.13 |
| Detective / Criminal Investigator (National Avg) | $45.86 |
| Correctional Officer (National Avg) | $25.24 |
| Security Guard (National Avg) | $17.32 |
Police Officers in Tucson, AZ earn a median of $79,325 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.00% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 4.00% above the Arizona state average of $76,274.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $38.13/hr = $47,589/year (purchasing power: $49,113).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $79,315/year (purchasing power: $81,856).
CoL index: 96.896 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$30.66/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$37.00/hr
2026 Current Est.
$38.13/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Tucson (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $30.66/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $29.83/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.83/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.13/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $35.09/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $37.59/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $37.00/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $38.13/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $39.30/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Tucson grew 20.7% from $30.66/hr (2019) to $37.00/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $39.30/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem police officers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tucson metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.06% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Police Officer in Tucson
Considering a part-time role, a police officer working 24 hours a week might expect to take home a significantly lower annual income compared to their full-time counterparts. Overtime pay, which can range from 1.5x base pay for court appearances, often adds 20-50% more to their income, making part-time earnings quite variable. Per diem police officer pay in Tucson may allow officers to command between $35-$75 per hour in private duty or event-specific assignments, enhancing their earnings potential. The pay structure can vary notably depending on the employer type—whether municipal police departments, county sheriff's offices, or federal agencies—which each offer different hourly rates. Officers might also face decisions between lower “insurance-inclusive” hourly rates and higher pay without benefits, which is often a key consideration. When negotiating pay, especially for hourly or part-time positions, understanding the local context and being aware of the officer's own worth based on relevant experience and skills is crucial in Tucson's law enforcement environment.
More salary data for Tucson, AZ:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for police officers in Tucson. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.06%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for police officers (SOC 33-3051).
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