Police Officer Hourly Pay in Kansas City, MO: $31.20 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Kansas City, MO runs $31.20 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,887 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Kansas City's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.5, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.71 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,933 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Kansas City, Missouri, the police officer hourly pay reflects a median rate of $31.20, which is significantly lower than the national median of $37.76. This disparity means that part-time officers working three days a week may find their per diem earnings constrained, affecting their overall financial stability in a profession that requires them to be physically present and engaged on the front lines. The official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data outlines an hourly range from $23.35 at the entry-level to $47.52 for top earners, illustrating the potential for significant earnings variability based on experience, rank, and specific assignments such as patrol, investigations, or specialized units. With a growing force of 4,820 officers, the compensation structure in Kansas City reflects standard expectations across various settings—from street patrols to investigative units—yet remains competitive relative to the local cost of living index.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.35 | $186.83 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $27.59 | $220.71 |
| Median (P50) | $31.20 | $249.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $41.08 | $328.64 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $47.52 | $380.17 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Kansas City
Based on $31.20/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.20/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Kansas City, MO can expect to earn approximately $64,888 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,436. With a cost-of-living index of 92.54 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Kansas City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Kansas City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,247.85 | $5,407 | $64,888 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $748.71 | $3,244 | $38,933 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $499.14 | $2,163 | $25,955 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Kansas City) | $31.20 |
| 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 Kansas City, MO earn a median of $64,887 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.39% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 6.40% above the Missouri state average of $60,984.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.20/hr = $38,933/year (purchasing power: $42,070).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,888/year (purchasing power: $70,117).
CoL index: 92.543 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$25.11/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.27/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.20/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Kansas City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $25.11/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.44/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.75/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.02/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.19/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $30.31/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.27/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.20/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.15/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Kansas City grew 20.5% from $25.11/hr (2019) to $30.27/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.15/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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City
Looking more closely at part-time earning potential, a police officer in Kansas City working 24 hours a week would take home considerably less than a full-time counterpart, as the latter typically receives additional pay through overtime for court appearances and special assignments. This means the hourly structure can lead to considerable differences in annual income, especially when factoring in mandatory overtime that can add 20-50% to base pay for those involved in court duties or exceptional operations. Rates for off-duty work can be lucrative, ranging from $35 to $75 per hour, especially for assignments that utilize their skills outside regular hours. The variance in police officer pay in Missouri is influenced by employer types, with municipal departments sometimes offering lower hourly rates in exchange for comprehensive benefits packages. Negotiation tactics are essential for hourly workers; emphasizing experience and specialized training can often help strike a more favorable deal, especially in a competitive labor market where officers must weigh the trade-offs between base pay and health insurance offers.
More salary data for Kansas City, MO:
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 Kansas City. 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