Police Officer Hourly Pay in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY: $31.32 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY runs $31.32 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $65,155 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Louisville/Jefferson County's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.1, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.65 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $39,087 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky, police officers can expect a median hourly pay of $31.32, which falls short of the national hourly median of $37.76. For officers working part-time, such as those on a three-day-a-week schedule, the pay translates into a take-home income that may limit financial stability, particularly in the face of the area’s cost of living index of 93.074. The hourly rate spans a range from $23.28 for entry-level positions to $38.64 for experienced officers, reflecting the diverse roles within the field. These roles typically include a variety of environments such as patrol vehicles, police stations for booking and report writing, and settings requiring court appearances or special unit operations.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.28 | $186.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.56 | $228.46 |
| Median (P50) | $31.32 | $250.56 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.29 | $290.30 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.64 | $309.10 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Louisville/Jefferson County
Based on $31.32/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.32/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY can expect to earn approximately $65,145 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,584. With a cost-of-living index of 93.07 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Louisville/Jefferson County.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Louisville/Jefferson County
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,252.80 | $5,429 | $65,145 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $751.68 | $3,257 | $39,087 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $501.12 | $2,172 | $26,058 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Louisville/Jefferson County) | $31.32 |
| 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY earn a median of $65,155 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.04% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 3.50% above the Kentucky state average of $62,951.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.32/hr = $39,087/year (purchasing power: $41,996).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $65,145/year (purchasing power: $69,993).
CoL index: 93.074 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$27.47/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.39/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.32/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Louisville/Jefferson County (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.47/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.95/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.50/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.85/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.39/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $30.37/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.39/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.32/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.28/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Louisville/Jefferson County grew 10.6% from $27.47/hr (2019) to $30.39/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.28/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 Louisville/Jefferson County 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 Louisville/Jefferson County
Exploring part-time income further illustrates the ramifications for officers working 24 hours per week compared to full-time colleagues. While those who work full-time benefit from potential overtime options—often boosting earnings by 20-50% for court-related or other mandatory duties—part-time officers may lack that same flexibility. Additionally, per diem police officer pay in Louisville/Jefferson County can range widely, as off-duty assignments often pay between $35-$75/hour, providing opportunities for supplemental income. The variation in hourly pay also reflects the type of employer, with municipal departments generally offering a different pay scale than state agencies or federal law enforcement. It's crucial for officers, whether negotiating their base rate or discussing benefits, to consider how hourly rates interact with health insurance and other compensation factors in their overall employment strategy.
More salary data for Louisville/Jefferson County, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for police officers in Louisville/Jefferson County in 2026?
How much do part-time police officers make in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Are police officers in Louisville/Jefferson County paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time police officer make per year in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Do police officers earn more per hour working part-time in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Kentucky
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 Louisville/Jefferson County. 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