Police Officer Hourly Pay in Wake Forest, NC: $28.61 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Wake Forest, NC runs $28.61 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $59,503 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Wake Forest's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.57 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,705 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Wake Forest, NC, the police officer hourly pay is set at a median of $28.61, notably falling short of the national median hourly rate of $37.76. This salary structure affects part-time officers who may work three days a week, translating to varying earnings based on their schedule. The hourly pay allows them to engage in critical duties, such as patrolling assigned beats, writing reports at police stations, or participating in court testimonies. Additionally, distinct roles like working in plainclothes or contributing to special units like SWAT can experience a wide hourly compensation range, spanning from $18.89 for entry-level positions to $43.74 for seasoned professionals. These figures reflect a strategic overview of compensation across different police work settings within the community.
About the Wake Forest Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.89 | $151.13 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.21 | $177.68 |
| Median (P50) | $28.61 | $228.88 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.62 | $292.94 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $43.74 | $349.91 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Wake Forest
Based on $28.61/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.61/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Wake Forest, NC can expect to earn approximately $59,508 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,331. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Wake Forest.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Wake Forest
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,144.38 | $4,959 | $59,508 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $686.63 | $2,975 | $35,705 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $457.75 | $1,984 | $23,803 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Wake Forest) | $28.61 |
| 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 Wake Forest, NC earn a median of $59,503 per year (2026 est.), which is 24.24% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 1.40% below the North Carolina state average of $60,348.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.61/hr = $35,705/year (purchasing power: $38,146).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $59,508/year (purchasing power: $63,577).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.00/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.76/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.61/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Wake Forest (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.00/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.87/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.53/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.96/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $26.33/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.07/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.76/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.61/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.48/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Wake Forest grew 20.7% from $23.00/hr (2019) to $27.76/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.48/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 Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest
Considering the implications of hourly pay in law enforcement, part-time officers working 24 hours a week could take home considerably less over time when compared to their full-time counterparts. Moreover, the earnings landscape also involves per diem police officer pay in Wake Forest, which can vary based on overtime opportunities and extra-duty assignments. Commonly, officers taking on off-duty work can command rates between $35 to $75 for tasks like event security or other special assignments, enhancing their overall compensation. The diversity in employer types leads to disparities in pay structures, with municipal departments typically offering lower wages compared to federal law enforcement agencies. Consequently, many officers may need to balance the trade-off between accepting lower hourly rates for the sake of health benefits and job security versus pursuing higher hourly compensations without those benefits. For those negotiating their salaries, understanding these market dynamics can prove invaluable.
More salary data for Wake Forest, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for police officers in Wake Forest in 2026?
How much do part-time police officers make in Wake Forest?
Are police officers in Wake Forest paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time police officer make per year in Wake Forest?
Do police officers earn more per hour working part-time in Wake Forest?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 Wake Forest. 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 Wake Forest 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