Police Officer Hourly Pay in Wooster, OH: $34.57 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Wooster, OH runs $34.57 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $71,907 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Wooster's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.7, 9% below national), each hour of work buys what $38.11 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $43,139 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the police officer hourly pay in Wooster, Ohio, is projected to be $34.57, which is below the national hourly median of $37.76. This difference can affect part-time and per diem officers who typically work in various settings, such as patrol cars, court testimony, or specialized units like K-9 operations. The hourly range for police officers in Wooster spans from $23.50 for entry-level positions to $51.40 for the top tier, reflecting a spectrum of experience and responsibility. These figures suggest that those working part-time, perhaps three days a week in police roles, may find varying degrees of financial sustainability based on their assigned responsibilities and the shifts they cover.
About the Wooster Market
Salary estimated from Ohio average ($68,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.50 | $187.98 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.09 | $224.75 |
| Median (P50) | $34.57 | $276.53 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $42.90 | $343.23 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $51.40 | $411.17 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Wooster
Based on $34.57/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $34.57/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Wooster, OH can expect to earn approximately $71,898 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $41,480. With a cost-of-living index of 90.70 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Wooster.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Wooster
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,382.65 | $5,991 | $71,898 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $829.59 | $3,595 | $43,139 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $553.06 | $2,397 | $28,759 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Wooster) | $34.57 |
| 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 Wooster, OH earn a median of $71,907 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.45% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 3.20% below the Ohio state average of $74,284.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $34.57/hr = $43,139/year (purchasing power: $47,562).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $71,898/year (purchasing power: $79,270).
CoL index: 90.7 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$27.79/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$33.54/hr
2026 Current Est.
$34.57/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Wooster (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.79/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.84/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.43/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.95/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $31.81/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.69/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $33.54/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $34.57/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $35.62/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Wooster grew 20.7% from $27.79/hr (2019) to $33.54/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $35.62/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 Wooster 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 Wooster
For part-time law enforcement personnel in Wooster, working three days a week and totaling around 24 hours could result in an annual take-home that is significantly lesser than full-time counterparts due to reduced hours. Many police officers face mandatory overtime, particularly for court appearances or special assignments, which can enhance their overall earnings by an additional 20-50%. Opportunities for extra-duty assignments also allow officers to earn between $35 and $75 per hour, which can be lucrative. Companies or agencies hiring officers for security roles or special details often have different pay structures compared to municipal departments. Some may prefer higher hourly rates without benefits, while others opt for positions with health insurance, reflecting diverse individual circumstances and priorities in Wooster. As negotiations for hourly pay occur, officers might consider the trade-off between benefits and salary, coming to an arrangement that best fits their financial and personal needs.
More salary data for Wooster, OH:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 Wooster. 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 Wooster 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