Police Officer Hourly Pay in Greenville, NC: $28.33 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Greenville, NC runs $28.33 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $58,940 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Greenville's regional price level (BEA RPP 88.4, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $32.05 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,357 per year.
Official BLS data · View source

In Greenville, North Carolina, the median hourly pay for police officers is projected to be $28.33 in 2026. This rate is notably lower than the national median of $37.76 per hour, reflecting regional economic conditions and municipal budget constraints. For those working in part-time capacities—such as three days a week—such figures can yield significant considerations regarding total earnings, especially in roles involving a range of in-field and administrative duties. The hourly wage ranges from approximately $22.71 for entry-level roles to $37.18 for top earners within the police force. These numbers, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics data, provide a crucial snapshot of the compensation landscape for law enforcement professionals in various operational contexts, including patrol duties, administrative tasks, and specialized unit operations in Greenville.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.71 | $181.72 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $27.62 | $220.96 |
| Median (P50) | $28.33 | $226.65 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $33.11 | $264.91 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $37.18 | $297.47 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Greenville
Based on $28.33/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.33/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Greenville, NC can expect to earn approximately $58,929 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $33,997. With a cost-of-living index of 88.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Greenville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Greenville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,133.25 | $4,911 | $58,929 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $679.95 | $2,946 | $35,357 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $453.30 | $1,964 | $23,572 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Greenville) | $28.33 |
| 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 Greenville, NC earn a median of $58,940 per year (2026 est.), which is 24.96% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 2.30% below the North Carolina state average of $60,328.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.33/hr = $35,357/year (purchasing power: $39,996).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $58,929/year (purchasing power: $66,660).
CoL index: 88.402 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.47/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.49/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.33/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+24.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Greenville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.47/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.46/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.50/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $26.91/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.69/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $27.33/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.49/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.33/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.20/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Greenville grew 17.1% from $23.47/hr (2019) to $27.49/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.20/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 Greenville 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 Greenville
Parsing through the financial implications of part-time versus full-time work reveals intricate earning dynamics within law enforcement. A part-time officer, working 24 hours a week at this hourly rate, would earn around $35,000 annually, a stark contrast to their full-time counterparts. Per diem and agency positions can further influence earning potential, with police officers often benefitting from overtime pay at 1.5 times their base rate for additional duties such as court appearances or special assignments. The local landscape includes diverse employment opportunities across various agencies—ranging from municipal departments to federal law enforcement—which can lead to different pay scales. While some officers may opt for higher hourly pay without health benefits, many accept lower paychecks in exchange for comprehensive insurance packages. When negotiating pay, simply being aware of these local variances and the broader economic context can help officers secure more favorable terms in Greenville's competitive job market.
More salary data for Greenville, NC:
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 Greenville. 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