Police Officer Hourly Pay in Buffalo, NY: $40.11 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Buffalo, NY runs $40.11 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $83,427 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Buffalo's regional price level (BEA RPP 95.8, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $41.85 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $50,058 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Buffalo, New York, police officers earn a median hourly pay of $40.11, significantly exceeding the national hourly median of $37.76. This hourly rate gives a part-time officer working three days a week, typically 24 hours, a viable pathway to supplement their income while engaging in community safety and law enforcement. Duties can range from patrolling assigned beats in squad cars to conducting interviews in more private settings such as plainclothes operations or maintaining security in courtrooms. The official Bureau of Labor Statistics data reveals that the hourly pay for entry-level positions starts around $29.09, potentially rising to $49.69 for top earners in the profession. This range emphasizes both the robust opportunities available for advancement and the importance of experience in good earning potential for officers based in the city.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $29.09 | $232.75 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $34.26 | $274.06 |
| Median (P50) | $40.11 | $320.89 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $46.75 | $373.98 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $49.69 | $397.48 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Buffalo
Based on $40.11/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $40.11/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Buffalo, NY can expect to earn approximately $83,431 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $48,133. With a cost-of-living index of 95.84 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Buffalo.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Buffalo
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,604.44 | $6,953 | $83,431 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $962.66 | $4,172 | $50,058 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $641.78 | $2,781 | $33,372 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Buffalo) | $40.11 |
| 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 Buffalo, NY earn a median of $83,427 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.22% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 1.80% above the New York state average of $81,952.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $40.11/hr = $50,058/year (purchasing power: $52,229).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $83,431/year (purchasing power: $87,049).
CoL index: 95.844 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$33.21/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$38.92/hr
2026 Current Est.
$40.11/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+24.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Buffalo (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $33.21/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $33.28/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $37.19/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $36.61/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $39.12/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $38.49/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $38.92/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $40.11/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $41.34/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Buffalo grew 17.2% from $33.21/hr (2019) to $38.92/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $41.34/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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo
Looking at the structure of police work in Buffalo, part-time officers working under a 24-hour schedule might realize an annual income significantly lower than their full-time counterparts, often feeling the pinch of benefits versus hourly wages. Typical part-time earnings can lead to lower take-home pay without the additional overtime benefits that full-time officers experience. Mandatory overtime, especially for court appearances, special operations, or extended shifts, can enhance overall earnings corresponding to their base hourly rate, potentially adding substantial percentages to their compensation. Police work in Buffalo varies depending on the employing body — municipal agencies, county sheriff’s offices, or federal entities like the FBI — with the pay reflecting the specific demands of each role. Police officers may sometimes accept a lower hourly rate in exchange for benefits, whereas others may pursue per diem police officer pay in Buffalo to seek roles with higher hourly compensation but limited benefits. Negotiating for a better pay rate can often hinge on the environment of the department, available funding, and the officer’s specific skill set or experience level, especially in the evolving landscape of law enforcement.
More salary data for Buffalo, NY:
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 Buffalo. 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