Police Officer Hourly Pay in Helena, MT: $37.38 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Helena, MT runs $37.38 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $77,738 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Helena's regional price level (BEA RPP 95.7, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $39.07 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $46,650 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Helena, Montana, the police officer hourly pay stands at a median rate of $37.38, closely aligning with the national hourly median of $37.76. This rate provides a foundation for full-time officers and is particularly relevant for part-time workers, who might engage in the role three days a week, enabling them to navigate diverse job settings ranging from patrol vehicles to interrogation rooms within police stations. Police officers in Helena can expect to earn between $29.95 and $38.66 per hour, reflecting the income disparity that often arises with experience and specialization. These figures, sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, highlight the existing opportunities and potential earnings for newly minted graduates from POST training as well as those pursuing per diem police officer pay in Helena.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $29.95 | $239.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $31.41 | $251.30 |
| Median (P50) | $37.38 | $299.04 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $38.25 | $305.96 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.66 | $309.26 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Helena
Based on $37.38/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $37.38/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Helena, MT can expect to earn approximately $77,750 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $44,856. With a cost-of-living index of 95.67 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Helena.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Helena
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,495.19 | $6,479 | $77,750 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $897.12 | $3,888 | $46,650 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $598.08 | $2,592 | $31,100 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Helena) | $37.38 |
| 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 Helena, MT earn a median of $77,738 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.02% lower than the national median of $78,542.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $37.38/hr = $46,650/year (purchasing power: $48,759).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $77,750/year (purchasing power: $81,265).
CoL index: 95.675 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$30.05/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$36.27/hr
2026 Current Est.
$37.38/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Helena (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $30.05/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $31.19/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $30.75/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $31.31/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $34.40/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $35.49/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $36.27/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $37.38/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $38.52/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Helena grew 20.7% from $30.05/hr (2019) to $36.27/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $38.52/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 Helena 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 Helena
Considering the implications of part-time and per-diem positions in law enforcement, officers working just 24 hours a week can anticipate annual earnings that yield a substantial difference when compared to their full-time counterparts. The hourly structure often leads to diverse earnings scenarios, especially when factoring in mandatory overtime, which can add a significant 20-50% onto base pay for court appearances or special assignments. Hourly rates can differ markedly across employer types in Helena, with municipal departments generally offering lower rates compared to federal law enforcement agencies, which align with GS-13 scales providing pay upwards of $100,000. Officers seeking employment may weigh the trade-offs between lower hourly wages in roles that include health benefits versus the potentially higher earnings in positions lacking such advantages. For those negotiating salary, understanding the specifics of local labor representation and the economics of pension multipliers can significantly enhance their bargaining power in Helena's unique law enforcement job market.
More salary data for Helena, 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 Helena. 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, 2-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