Police Officer Hourly Pay in Des Moines, IA: $40.53 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Des Moines, IA runs $40.53 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $84,313 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Des Moines's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.7, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $44.20 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $50,586 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Des Moines, the police officer hourly pay stands at $40.53, which is significantly higher than the national hourly median of $37.76. For part-time police officers working three days a week, this translates to earnings that can be substantial even if they do not work full-time hours. Officers typically find themselves in various settings—from patrol vehicles and police stations to courtroom appearances—each requiring different skills and responsibilities. The hourly range for officers in Des Moines varies from $30.99 for entry-level positions to $51.77 for those at the top of the pay scale. These figures are reflective of official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, projecting the landscape of police officer compensation for 2026.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $30.99 | $247.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $36.02 | $288.16 |
| Median (P50) | $40.53 | $324.27 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $51.77 | $414.14 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $51.77 | $414.14 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Des Moines
Based on $40.53/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $40.53/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Des Moines, IA can expect to earn approximately $84,310 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $48,640. With a cost-of-living index of 91.70 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Des Moines.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Des Moines
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,621.34 | $7,026 | $84,310 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $972.80 | $4,215 | $50,586 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $648.54 | $2,810 | $33,724 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Des Moines) | $40.53 |
| 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 Des Moines, IA earn a median of $84,313 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.35% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 5.50% above the Iowa state average of $79,918.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $40.53/hr = $50,586/year (purchasing power: $55,164).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $84,310/year (purchasing power: $91,940).
CoL index: 91.701 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$32.81/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$39.33/hr
2026 Current Est.
$40.53/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Des Moines (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $32.81/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $35.05/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $38.13/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $35.17/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $37.71/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $41.07/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $39.33/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $40.53/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $41.77/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Des Moines grew 19.9% from $32.81/hr (2019) to $39.33/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $41.77/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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines
When considering employment as a police officer in Des Moines, the earning potential for part-time workers can vary greatly compared to full-time officers. A part-time officer on a 24-hour weekly schedule could face an annual take-home that, while respectable, is considerably lower than that of a full-time officer. With mandatory overtime a common expectation in law enforcement roles, many full-time professionals see their earnings boost significantly—often by 20-50%—when factoring in additional pay for off-duty assignments or extended shifts. Hourly rates can shift depending on the employer type, whether it's a municipal department, county sheriff's office, or a federal agency like the FBI, each offering distinct compensation models. Although some officers opt for positions with lower hourly rates in exchange for benefits such as health insurance, others may pursue higher hourly compensation without equivalent benefits. Understanding these dynamics is essential for successful negotiation in this field, particularly given the local context of Des Moines and the varying financial implications of choosing between different employer types and compensation structures.
More salary data for Des Moines, IA:
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 Des Moines. 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