Police Officer Hourly Pay in Great Falls, MT: $39.08 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Great Falls, MT runs $39.08 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $81,283 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Great Falls's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.8, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $40.35 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $48,772 per year.
Official BLS data · View source

In Great Falls, Montana, police officer hourly pay reaches a median rate of $39.08, which is notably higher than the national median of $37.76. This level of compensation reflects the responsibilities these officers shoulder while patrolling neighborhoods or handling critical tasks at the precinct, including report writing and testifying in court. For part-time officers working three days a week, this hourly rate translates to a viable income, particularly suited for those balancing other commitments or pursuing per-diem roles. The hourly pay range for police officers in Great Falls varies significantly: entry-level officers can expect around $28.08 an hour, while experienced officers and those in specialized units may earn as much as $50.23 per hour. This official data, based on 2025 BLS OEWS statistics and projected to 2026, highlights the competitive nature of police compensation in Great Falls compared to broader national trends.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $28.08 | $224.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $34.51 | $276.12 |
| Median (P50) | $39.08 | $312.64 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $45.80 | $366.40 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50.23 | $401.85 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Great Falls
Based on $39.08/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $39.08/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Great Falls, MT can expect to earn approximately $81,287 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $46,896. With a cost-of-living index of 96.84 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Great Falls.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Great Falls
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,563.21 | $6,774 | $81,287 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $937.93 | $4,064 | $48,772 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $625.29 | $2,710 | $32,515 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Great Falls) | $39.08 |
| 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 Great Falls, MT earn a median of $81,283 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.49% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 4.60% above the Montana state average of $77,709.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $39.08/hr = $48,772/year (purchasing power: $50,361).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $81,287/year (purchasing power: $83,935).
CoL index: 96.845 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$32.72/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$37.92/hr
2026 Current Est.
$39.08/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+23.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Great Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $32.72/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $33.21/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $31.06/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $31.98/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $34.84/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $38.37/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $37.92/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $39.08/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $40.28/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Great Falls grew 15.9% from $32.72/hr (2019) to $37.92/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $40.28/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 Great Falls 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 Great Falls
Part-time police officers in Great Falls who work a standard schedule of three days a week, totaling 24 hours, can expect to take home approximately $45,470 annually before taxes, which is considerably less than full-time colleagues. For those working as per-diem officers, the reality often involves sporadic assignments that might pay anywhere from $35 to $75 per hour for extra-duty tasks, such as security at events. While police work generally offers a salaried structure with mandatory overtime for court appearances and other duties, agencies frequently provide additional compensation at the rate of time-and-a-half, leading to potential increases of 20% to 50% in an officer's base hourly pay. Additionally, the variation in hourly rates across different employer types in Great Falls means that roles in municipal departments may offer a different scale of pay compared to those with state police or federal agencies. Officers must also consider benefits like health insurance versus hourly pay; higher wages might come without these perks. When negotiating, it’s beneficial for officers to focus on the total compensation package rather than just the hourly wage, ensuring they select options that best meet their financial and personal needs.
More salary data for Great Falls, MT:
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 Great Falls. 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