Police Officer Hourly Pay in Columbia, MO: $30.76 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Columbia, MO runs $30.76 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $63,980 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Columbia's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.4, 11% below national), each hour of work buys what $34.40 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,393 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Columbia, Missouri, police officer hourly pay is projected to reach a median of $30.76 in 2026, which is notably lower than the national median of $37.76. This disparity highlights the local market's challenges, especially for part-time or per diem police officers working in diverse settings, such as patrol vehicles, police stations, or during court testimony. For those engaged in law enforcement only a few days a week, the hourly rate translates to a more flexible schedule that may appeal to individuals prioritizing work-life balance. Within the Columbia area, entry-level officers can expect to earn around $21.57 per hour, while experienced officers might see compensation as high as $36.36 per hour. This officially sourced hourly data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics emphasizes the economic realities facing law enforcement professionals in Columbia.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21.57 | $172.56 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.41 | $179.24 |
| Median (P50) | $30.76 | $246.11 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $31.04 | $248.33 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $36.36 | $290.88 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Columbia
Based on $30.76/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.76/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Columbia, MO can expect to earn approximately $63,988 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $36,916. With a cost-of-living index of 89.44 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Columbia.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Columbia
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,230.54 | $5,332 | $63,988 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $738.32 | $3,199 | $38,393 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $492.21 | $2,133 | $25,595 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Columbia) | $30.76 |
| 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 Columbia, MO earn a median of $63,980 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.54% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 4.90% above the Missouri state average of $60,991.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.76/hr = $38,393/year (purchasing power: $42,927).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $63,988/year (purchasing power: $71,544).
CoL index: 89.438 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$22.98/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.85/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.76/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+38.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Columbia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $22.98/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.77/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.36/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.19/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $25.26/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $30.20/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.85/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.76/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.70/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Columbia grew 29.9% from $22.98/hr (2019) to $29.85/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.70/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 Columbia 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 Columbia
For a police officer working part-time at 24 hours a week, based on the hourly compensation, the annual home pay would typically fall significantly short of full-time earnings, fostering a reliance on supplemental pay from extra shifts or off-duty details. Besides standard hourly pay, numerous agencies in Columbia offer opportunities for extra-duty assignments that can yield pay of $35-$75 per hour. Police officers often find themselves in a blend of salaried positions with mandatory overtime, particularly when attending court or managing special details, resulting in a potential hourly increase of 20-50%. The pay structure varies depending on whether officers are employed by municipal police departments, county sheriff's offices, or federal law enforcement agencies, with federal positions typically offering higher salaries but also requiring extensive experience and training. Moreover, when negotiating, officers need to balance hourly rates against the stability of health benefits that might come with lower pay, influencing many to consider their overall compensation package carefully in Columbia.
More salary data for Columbia, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for police officers in Columbia in 2026?
How much do part-time police officers make in Columbia?
Are police officers in Columbia paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time police officer make per year in Columbia?
Do police officers earn more per hour working part-time in Columbia?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Missouri
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 Columbia. 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