Police Officer Hourly Pay in St. Paul, MN: $47.68 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in St. Paul, MN runs $47.68 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $99,158 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against St. Paul's regional price level (BEA RPP 98.5, 1% below national), each hour of work buys what $48.40 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $59,499 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In St. Paul, Minnesota, police officer hourly pay is projected to reach a median of $47.68 in 2026, which is significantly higher than the national median of $37.76. This attractive hourly rate allows both full-time and part-time officers to find rewarding opportunities in various operational settings, whether monitoring neighborhoods from patrol vehicles or conducting interviews in detective units. Entry-level positions may start around $29.37 per hour, while top earners can achieve approximately $73.89 per hour, reflecting the diverse pay scale available within the profession. Most hourly rates are derived from estimated annual salaries, underscoring a structured pay system that can be influenced by the type of assignment, level of experience, and department specifics.
About the St. Paul Market
Salary estimated from Minnesota average ($78,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $29.37 | $234.98 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $36.81 | $294.50 |
| Median (P50) | $47.68 | $381.40 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $61.02 | $488.17 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $73.89 | $591.15 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Paul
Based on $47.68/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $47.68/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Paul, MN can expect to earn approximately $99,165 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $57,211. With a cost-of-living index of 98.50 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Paul.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Paul
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,907.02 | $8,264 | $99,165 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,144.21 | $4,958 | $59,499 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $762.81 | $3,306 | $39,666 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (St. Paul) | $47.68 |
| 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 St. Paul, MN earn a median of $99,158 per year (2026 est.), which is 26.25% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 24.60% above the Minnesota state average of $79,581.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $47.68/hr = $59,499/year (purchasing power: $60,405).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $99,165/year (purchasing power: $100,675).
CoL index: 98.5 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$38.33/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$46.26/hr
2026 Current Est.
$47.68/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in St. Paul (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38.33/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $39.78/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $39.22/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $39.93/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $43.87/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $38.40/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $46.26/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $47.68/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $49.13/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in St. Paul grew 20.7% from $38.33/hr (2019) to $46.26/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $49.13/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 St. Paul 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 St. Paul
When considering part-time work in this field, a police officer working three 8-hour shifts each week (totaling 24 hours) might see an annual take-home pay that is considerably lower than their full-time counterparts. The structure of police work often includes mandatory overtime, especially for tasks like court appearances and special operations, with overtime pay commonly set at 1.5 times the base rate, which can significantly increase overall earnings. Per diem assignments in St. Paul might yield around $35-$75 per hour, offering flexibility but often without benefits like health insurance that full-time roles provide, leading many officers to carefully weigh financial trade-offs when selecting positions. Moreover, hourly compensation can vary based on employer types — municipal departments, county sheriff’s offices, or federal agencies like the FBI each offer distinct pay brackets, pushing some officers to transition into private security roles post-retirement. For those negotiating hourly wages, it's advantageous to consider not just the pay but the range of benefits included, which can influence job satisfaction and long-term financial stability.
More salary data for St. Paul, MN:
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 St. Paul. 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 St. Paul 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