Police Officer Hourly Pay in Gainesville, GA: $30.42 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Gainesville, GA runs $30.42 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $63,279 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Gainesville's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.8, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.44 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $37,968 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Gainesville, Georgia, the police officer hourly pay stands at a median of $30.42, which is notably lower than the national hourly median of $37.76. This discrepancy highlights the specific local economic conditions and budgetary constraints faced by municipal departments. For part-time officers working approximately three days a week, or for those seeking per diem police officer pay in Gainesville, the financial implications of this hourly rate become significant. Many officers can expect their pay to fall within a range that begins at $25.25 for entry-level positions and reaches up to $37.70 for top earners, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These figures reflect typical job environments, whether they are in patrol vehicles, police stations for report writing, or engaged in complex investigations.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $25.25 | $202.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.68 | $205.46 |
| Median (P50) | $30.42 | $243.39 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $32.04 | $256.33 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $37.70 | $301.59 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Gainesville
Based on $30.42/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.42/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Gainesville, GA can expect to earn approximately $63,280 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $36,508. With a cost-of-living index of 96.77 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Gainesville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Gainesville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,216.93 | $5,273 | $63,280 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $730.16 | $3,164 | $37,968 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $486.77 | $2,109 | $25,312 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Gainesville) | $30.42 |
| 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 Gainesville, GA earn a median of $63,279 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.43% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 5.50% above the Georgia state average of $59,980.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.42/hr = $37,968/year (purchasing power: $39,237).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $63,280/year (purchasing power: $65,395).
CoL index: 96.766 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$21.76/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.52/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.42/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+44.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Gainesville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $21.76/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $21.94/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.22/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.38/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $25.49/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $29.20/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.52/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.42/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.35/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Gainesville grew 35.7% from $21.76/hr (2019) to $29.52/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.35/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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville
Considering the earning potential, part-time officers working 24 hours a week can expect to take home around $37,837 annually, a notably smaller sum compared to full-time officers. In certain situations, such as court appearances or special duty details, officers may earn overtime pay at a rate of 1.5 times their base pay, which significantly enhances take-home income. Additionally, extra-duty assignments, common in Gainesville, can yield hourly rates ranging from $35 to $75, offering attractive alternatives for those looking to supplement their income. The variation in hourly rates across different employer types, be it municipal police or federal law enforcement, further underscores the complexities of police officer compensation in Gainesville, GA. Many choose to prioritize job security and benefits over higher hourly rates, showcasing the trade-offs inherent in this profession. Officers considering their options should carefully assess the total compensation package when negotiating pay, as benefits can substantially influence overall job satisfaction and retirement planning.
More salary data for Gainesville, 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 Gainesville. 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