Police Officer Hourly Pay in Athens, GA: $30.08 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Athens, GA runs $30.08 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $62,568 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Athens's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.3, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $32.23 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $37,544 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Athens, Georgia, police officers earn a median hourly rate of $30.08, which falls below the national median of $37.76. This figure reflects the working conditions typical for police officers, who may find themselves in a variety of roles, including patrolling neighborhoods, processing reports at booking stations, or providing court testimony. With an hourly range spanning from $20.67 for entry-level positions to $37.16 for experienced officers, there are diverse earning potentials within this profession. Such variability allows part-time officers, working around three days a week, to find opportunities that may enhance their overall income, whether through regular shifts or extra details. These estimates are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and provide a comprehensive glance at police officer hourly pay in Athens.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20.67 | $165.39 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.77 | $230.19 |
| Median (P50) | $30.08 | $240.67 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.38 | $291.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $37.16 | $297.31 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Athens
Based on $30.08/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.08/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Athens, GA can expect to earn approximately $62,573 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $36,100. With a cost-of-living index of 93.34 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Athens.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Athens
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,203.33 | $5,214 | $62,573 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $722.00 | $3,129 | $37,544 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $481.33 | $2,086 | $25,029 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Athens) | $30.08 |
| 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 Athens, GA earn a median of $62,568 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.34% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 4.30% above the Georgia state average of $59,988.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.08/hr = $37,544/year (purchasing power: $40,221).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $62,573/year (purchasing power: $67,036).
CoL index: 93.343 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$20.32/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.19/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.08/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+52.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Athens (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $20.32/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $20.86/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.71/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.66/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $25.83/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $27.36/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.19/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.08/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.00/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Athens grew 43.7% from $20.32/hr (2019) to $29.19/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.00/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 Athens 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 Athens
When evaluating part-time opportunities, a police officer working 24 hours a week can expect to bring home roughly $37,000 annually before deductions, significantly less than the take-home pay for their full-time counterparts. However, police work often includes mandatory overtime and extra-duty assignments, where officers can earn substantially more. The potential for overtime pay at a rate of 1.5 times the base rate for court appearances or special events can add 20-50% to overall earnings. Also, hourly rates can vary depending on the employer, with municipal departments often providing less than federal agencies like the FBI or state police. Many officers consider the trade-offs between higher hourly pay without benefits versus lower pay with health insurance packages. For those entering the workforce or negotiating rates in Athens, being aware of the local pay trends and leveraging specific skills can enhance their position in a competitive job market.
More salary data for Athens, GA:
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 Athens. 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, 7-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