Police Officer Hourly Pay in Rocky Mount, NC: $31.09 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Rocky Mount, NC runs $31.09 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,670 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Rocky Mount's regional price level (BEA RPP 88.0, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.33 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,804 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Police officers in Rocky Mount, North Carolina earn a median hourly pay of $31.09, which is significantly lower than the national median of $37.76. This hourly rate indicates that officers working part-time—such as those on a three-day workweek, totaling 24 hours—can expect to earn approximately $746 a week, translating to about $38,800 annually if consistently employed throughout the year. The hourly pay ranges from $23.96 for entry-level positions to $38.20 for the highest earners in the profession, outlining a clear growth trajectory for officers as they gain experience and take on additional responsibilities. This official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data sheds light on the economic landscape for police work in Rocky Mount, where officers typically patrol assigned beats, handle report writing at the police station, and perform various special unit operations.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.96 | $191.69 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $27.25 | $217.99 |
| Median (P50) | $31.09 | $248.75 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $38.20 | $305.63 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.20 | $305.63 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Rocky Mount
Based on $31.09/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.09/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Rocky Mount, NC can expect to earn approximately $64,674 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,312. With a cost-of-living index of 88.01 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Rocky Mount.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Rocky Mount
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,243.73 | $5,389 | $64,674 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $746.24 | $3,234 | $38,804 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $497.49 | $2,156 | $25,870 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Rocky Mount) | $31.09 |
| 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 Rocky Mount, NC earn a median of $64,670 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.66% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 7.20% above the North Carolina state average of $60,327.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.09/hr = $38,804/year (purchasing power: $44,090).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,674/year (purchasing power: $73,483).
CoL index: 88.012 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$21.04/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.17/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.09/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+52.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Rocky Mount (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $21.04/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $21.82/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.67/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.77/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.86/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $26.44/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.17/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.09/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.04/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Rocky Mount grew 43.4% from $21.04/hr (2019) to $30.17/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.04/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 Rocky Mount 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 Rocky Mount
Part-time officers working in Rocky Mount can see substantial differences in their take-home pay as compared to full-time employees, especially when considering the structure and demands of police work. For instance, a part-time officer working just 24 hours a week may not be eligible for overtime pay, which is often a significant contributor to total earnings. Full-time officers frequently benefit from mandatory overtime that can increase base pay by 20-50% through court appearances or extended shifts. Additionally, off-duty assignments like event security or construction site flagging can provide extra income, sometimes as high as $75 per hour. As for employer variation, hourly rates can differ notably; those serving in municipal police departments might find their pay is lower than counterparts in federal agencies, where average salaries are more competitive. While some may accept slightly lower pay for the benefits tied to public service jobs—such as health insurance—others may prefer to pursue higher hourly wages in different settings, including private security after retirement from law enforcement. Negotiating terms that balance hourly compensation and benefits remains essential for the career satisfaction of police officers in Rocky Mount.
More salary data for Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount. 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