Police Officer Hourly Pay in Kirkwood, MO: $29.07 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Kirkwood, MO runs $29.07 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $60,468 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Kirkwood's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.6, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $32.45 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $36,283 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Kirkwood, Missouri, the police officer hourly pay is set at a median of $29.07, which trails significantly behind the national median of $37.76. This discrepancy highlights the local economic conditions and budget restrictions that can impact law enforcement compensation. For officers working part-time, such as three days a week, the pay translates to approximately $29,000 annually, a figure that may drop below what many expect based on the national averages. Those in full-time roles can find themselves anywhere in the range of $18.67 to $42.82 per hour, depending on experience and responsibilities. This hourly framework does not just apply to typical patrol duties but also extends to various settings, including booking areas, report-writing, and special unit operations.
About the Kirkwood Market
Salary estimated from Missouri average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.67 | $149.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.74 | $181.88 |
| Median (P50) | $29.07 | $232.59 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.94 | $295.49 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $42.82 | $342.57 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Kirkwood
Based on $29.07/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.07/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Kirkwood, MO can expect to earn approximately $60,472 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,888. With a cost-of-living index of 89.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Kirkwood.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Kirkwood
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,162.93 | $5,039 | $60,472 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $697.76 | $3,024 | $36,283 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $465.17 | $2,016 | $24,189 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Kirkwood) | $29.07 |
| 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 Kirkwood, MO earn a median of $60,468 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.01% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 0.80% below the Missouri state average of $60,956.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.07/hr = $36,283/year (purchasing power: $40,495).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $60,472/year (purchasing power: $67,491).
CoL index: 89.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.38/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.21/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.07/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Kirkwood (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.38/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.26/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.92/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $24.35/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $26.76/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.50/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.21/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.07/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.96/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Kirkwood grew 20.7% from $23.38/hr (2019) to $28.21/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.96/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 Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood
Considering part-time work, officers in Kirkwood can earn a modest income compared to their full-time counterparts, especially with mandatory overtime significantly enhancing overall earnings. While full-time officers can benefit from evenings and weekends that allow for extra duty assignments—where pay can spike to $35-$75 per hour—they must also navigate the balance of hours worked versus pay expectations. Types of employers, such as municipal police departments and federal agencies, affect compensation structures as well, with federal roles often offering higher hourly rates than municipal counterparts. Additionally, those in Kirkwood should weigh the trade-offs when it comes to benefits, as roles with higher pay might lack health insurance compared to positions with lower hourly rates. Negotiating effectively can lead to improvements in contracted hourly pay, especially if one emphasizes their training and experience as a POST graduate.
More salary data for Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood. 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 Kirkwood 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