Police Officer Hourly Pay in Council Bluffs, IA: $37.11 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Council Bluffs, IA runs $37.11 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $77,198 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Council Bluffs's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.4, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $41.05 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $46,316 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Council Bluffs, IA, the projected median hourly pay for police officers in 2026 is $37.11, which positions it slightly below the national median of $37.76. This hour rate provides substantial opportunities for those working part-time or on a per-diem basis, particularly in diverse settings like patrol vehicles, police stations, and courtrooms. With an hourly range from $23.15 at the lower end to $55.24 at the higher end, officers can find varied roles suited to their experience level and schedule flexibility. Entry-level officers might start near the bottom, while experienced officers, as they progress in their careers, can aspire to the upper tiers of the hourly rate spectrum, reflecting the distinct demands and responsibilities associated with police work in the region.
About the Council Bluffs Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($65,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.15 | $185.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.72 | $229.78 |
| Median (P50) | $37.11 | $296.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $47.51 | $380.09 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $55.24 | $441.92 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Council Bluffs
Based on $37.11/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $37.11/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Council Bluffs, IA can expect to earn approximately $77,193 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $44,534. With a cost-of-living index of 90.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Council Bluffs.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Council Bluffs
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,484.48 | $6,433 | $77,193 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $890.69 | $3,860 | $46,316 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $593.79 | $2,573 | $30,877 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Council Bluffs) | $37.11 |
| 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 Council Bluffs, IA earn a median of $77,198 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.71% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 3.40% below the Iowa state average of $79,915.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $37.11/hr = $46,316/year (purchasing power: $51,234).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $77,193/year (purchasing power: $85,390).
CoL index: 90.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$29.84/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$36.01/hr
2026 Current Est.
$37.11/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Council Bluffs (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29.84/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $30.97/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $30.53/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $31.09/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $34.15/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $27.28/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $36.01/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $37.11/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $38.25/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Council Bluffs grew 20.7% from $29.84/hr (2019) to $36.01/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $38.25/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 Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs
Part-time officers in Council Bluffs working three days per week, totaling about 24 hours, take home significantly less annually compared to full-time counterparts. Earnings for part-timers will likely fall short of the full-time officers’ benefits, which frequently include health insurance and retirement plans. Additionally, overtime opportunities can enhance total income substantially. Commonly, officers earn 1.5 times their base pay for special assignments, which can increase overall pay by 20-50%. The cost of living in Council Bluffs, approximately 90.4 compared to the national average, also plays a role in compensation negotiations. Salaries may differ across employer types, with federal agencies typically offering higher hourly wages than municipal departments, while some police officers may opt for lower hourly compensation in exchange for job security and benefits. As professionals consider their career paths, the balance of hourly pay versus benefits remains a practical consideration in this field.
More salary data for Council Bluffs, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 Council Bluffs. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Council Bluffs is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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