Police Officer Hourly Pay in Lafayette, IN: $36.82 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Lafayette, IN runs $36.82 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $76,594 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Lafayette's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.4, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $39.41 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $45,956 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Police officers in Lafayette, Indiana, earn a median hourly pay of $36.82, which is slightly below the national median hourly rate of $37.76. For part-time officers working three days a week, this wage translates to approximately $1,173 when assuming a 24-hour workweek. Their responsibilities range from patrolling assigned beats to engaging in activities such as report writing and court testimonies. The hourly pay structure in Lafayette presents an array of opportunities, with entry-level positions starting at around $29.16 and top earners reaching up to $45.09 per hour, according to estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. This dynamic pay scale includes various roles, from uniformed patrol officers to specialized units like SWAT or K-9 operations, showcasing the range of earning potential in this profession.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $29.16 | $233.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $32.03 | $256.25 |
| Median (P50) | $36.82 | $294.59 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $37.39 | $299.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $45.09 | $360.71 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Lafayette
Based on $36.82/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $36.82/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Lafayette, IN can expect to earn approximately $76,593 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $44,188. With a cost-of-living index of 93.43 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Lafayette.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Lafayette
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,472.93 | $6,383 | $76,593 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $883.76 | $3,830 | $45,956 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $589.17 | $2,553 | $30,637 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Lafayette) | $36.82 |
| 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 Lafayette, IN earn a median of $76,594 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.48% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 2.30% above the Indiana state average of $74,872.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $36.82/hr = $45,956/year (purchasing power: $49,187).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $76,593/year (purchasing power: $81,979).
CoL index: 93.43 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$28.47/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$35.73/hr
2026 Current Est.
$36.82/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+33.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Lafayette (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28.47/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.93/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.87/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $31.28/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $34.07/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $36.15/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $35.73/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $36.82/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $37.95/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Lafayette grew 25.5% from $28.47/hr (2019) to $35.73/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $37.95/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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette
In terms of annual earnings, a part-time police officer in Lafayette working 24 hours per week would take home considerably less than full-time colleagues, who typically benefit from structured salaries and additional compensation for overtime. Given that police officers often have mandatory overtime for court appearances and other duties, this added income can elevate their overall earnings by 20-50% beyond the base hourly rate. Moreover, police work in the area varies depending on the employer type, with municipal departments, county sheriff's offices, and federal agencies all offering different hourly pay structures. While some officers may opt for positions that provide health benefits at a lower hourly wage, others may choose roles offering higher pay without benefits. Officers in Lafayette can maximize their earnings by considering per diem opportunities that might pay between $35-$75 per hour for extra-duty assignments, such as event security. In this context, negotiation for specific terms becomes crucial, especially among officers weighing offers from different law enforcement entities.
More salary data for Lafayette, IN:
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 Lafayette. 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