Police Officer Hourly Pay in Merrimack, NH: $39.49 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Merrimack, NH runs $39.49 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $82,136 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Merrimack's regional price level (BEA RPP 107.3, 7% above national), each hour of work buys what $36.81 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $49,287 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Merrimack, New Hampshire, police officer hourly pay for 2026 is projected to reach a median of $39.49, surpassing the national median of $37.76. This translates into a stable income for professionals who may choose not to work full-time. For those in part-time roles, such as on a three-day work schedule, this hourly wage allows for a comfortable standard of living, particularly in environments ranging from patrol vehicles to courtrooms. Additionally, entry-level positions start at an hourly rate of $24.17, while the highest earners can command up to $56.71 per hour. Given these figures, the hourly range allows not only for stable employment but also for the possibility of supplemental income, making the police officer hourly rate in NH an attractive option for both full-time and per-diem workers.
About the Merrimack Market
Salary estimated from New Hampshire average ($68,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $24.17 | $193.34 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $30.03 | $240.25 |
| Median (P50) | $39.49 | $315.94 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $49.38 | $395.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $56.71 | $453.71 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Merrimack
Based on $39.49/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $39.49/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Merrimack, NH can expect to earn approximately $82,145 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $47,391. With a cost-of-living index of 107.30 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Merrimack.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Merrimack
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,579.70 | $6,845 | $82,145 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $947.82 | $4,107 | $49,287 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $631.88 | $2,738 | $32,858 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Merrimack) | $39.49 |
| 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 Merrimack, NH earn a median of $82,136 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.58% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 2.50% below the New Hampshire state average of $84,242.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $39.49/hr = $49,287/year (purchasing power: $45,934).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $82,145/year (purchasing power: $76,556).
CoL index: 107.3 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$31.75/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$38.32/hr
2026 Current Est.
$39.49/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Merrimack (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $31.75/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $32.95/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $32.49/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $33.08/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $36.34/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $34.19/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $38.32/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $39.49/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $40.70/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Merrimack grew 20.7% from $31.75/hr (2019) to $38.32/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $40.70/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 Merrimack 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 Merrimack
Analyzing the earning potential for police officers in Merrimack reveals significant differences between part-time and full-time employment. A part-time officer working a 24-hour week could expect to take home approximately $49,158 annually, a notable figure, yet far lower than the income of a full-time counterpart who benefits from overtime and various stipends. Regular officers often see their base pay supplemented by mandatory overtime for court appearances or special assignments, which can inflate earnings by an additional 20-50%. This dynamic plays into the choices of officers pursuing various employer types, from municipal police departments to federal law enforcement agencies. Officers may find themselves making trade-offs between lower hourly wages in municipal service, which often come with health benefits, and higher rates without those benefits in private security roles. Negotiating hourly wages in Merrimack requires an understanding of these variances, as well as awareness of the potential for additional income through off-duty work, which commonly pays between $35 to $75 per hour.
More salary data for Merrimack, NH:
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 Merrimack. 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 Merrimack 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