Police Officer Hourly Pay in Brookings, SD: $32.37 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Brookings, SD runs $32.37 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $67,338 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Brookings's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.8, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $34.88 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $40,399 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Brookings, SD, the projected police officer hourly pay in 2026 is set at $32.37, which is notably lower than the national median of $37.76. This disparity can significantly impact both full-time and part-time officers, especially those working three days a week. Working part-time at this rate would allow an officer to earn $32.37 per hour while on typical duties like patrolling, report writing, or providing court testimony. Within Brookings, hourly pay spans from $22.02 for entry-level positions to around $45.74 for top earners, highlighting a broad range of opportunities in this vocation. These figures are derived from annual salary projections and offer a useful lens for understanding the income potential for various roles within law enforcement in the region.
About the Brookings Market
Salary estimated from South Dakota average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.02 | $176.19 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $26.14 | $209.09 |
| Median (P50) | $32.37 | $258.97 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $40.19 | $321.55 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $45.74 | $365.90 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Brookings
Based on $32.37/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $32.37/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Brookings, SD can expect to earn approximately $67,332 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $38,845. With a cost-of-living index of 92.80 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Brookings.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Brookings
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,294.85 | $5,611 | $67,332 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $776.91 | $3,367 | $40,399 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $517.94 | $2,244 | $26,933 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Brookings) | $32.37 |
| 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 Brookings, SD earn a median of $67,338 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.26% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 7.60% below the South Dakota state average of $72,877.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $32.37/hr = $40,399/year (purchasing power: $43,534).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $67,332/year (purchasing power: $72,556).
CoL index: 92.8 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.03/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$31.41/hr
2026 Current Est.
$32.37/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Brookings (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.03/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.01/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.63/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.12/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.79/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.67/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $31.41/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $32.37/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $33.36/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Brookings grew 20.7% from $26.03/hr (2019) to $31.41/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $33.36/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 Brookings 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 Brookings
Examining the take-home pay for officers in Brookings reveals that working part-time, for example, for 24 hours a week, equates to just under $50,000 annually, while full-time officers significantly bolster their incomes further due to mandatory overtime and extra-duty assignments. Many departments supplement earnings with overtime pay at a rate of 1.5 times the base hourly wage, especially during court appearances or special operations, resulting in an increase of 20-50% to annual earnings. Per diem police officer pay in Brookings tends to vary widely, depending on whether an officer works in municipal departments, county sheriff's offices, or federal agencies. Often, those in municipal roles may accept lower hourly rates in exchange for better health benefits, while others might prefer the flexibility of higher pay with fewer benefits. Given these dynamics, officers in Brookings looking to negotiate their hourly rates may benefit from understanding the unique compensation structures offered by different law enforcement agencies, as well as the potential for lucrative off-duty assignments.
More salary data for Brookings, SD:
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 Brookings. 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 Brookings 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