Police Officer Hourly Pay in McAllen, TX: $28.92 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in McAllen, TX runs $28.92 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $60,146 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against McAllen's regional price level (BEA RPP 85.9, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.67 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $36,090 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Police officer hourly pay in McAllen, Texas, is projected to be $28.92 in 2026, significantly lower than the national average of $37.76 per hour. This disparity reflects the local cost of living, which is around 15% below the national average. For officers working part-time, such as those on a three-day workweek, they could expect to earn approximately $1,389.36 weekly if working the standard 40-hour schedule over those days, amounting to a gross income that remains below possible full-time earnings. The hourly rates for police officers in McAllen range from $22.63 for entry-level positions to $42.61 for those at the top of the scale. These figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and reflect the realities of working in various settings, including patrol duties, booking areas, and specialized operations like SWAT and K-9 deployments.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.63 | $181.06 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.41 | $195.32 |
| Median (P50) | $28.92 | $231.35 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35.84 | $286.75 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $42.61 | $340.84 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in McAllen
Based on $28.92/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.92/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in McAllen, TX can expect to earn approximately $60,151 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,702. With a cost-of-living index of 85.89 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in McAllen.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in McAllen
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,156.75 | $5,013 | $60,151 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $694.05 | $3,008 | $36,090 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $462.70 | $2,005 | $24,060 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (McAllen) | $28.92 |
| 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 McAllen, TX earn a median of $60,146 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.42% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 21.70% below the Texas state average of $76,815.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.92/hr = $36,090/year (purchasing power: $42,017).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $60,151/year (purchasing power: $70,028).
CoL index: 85.895 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.69/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.06/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.92/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+25.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in McAllen (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.69/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.29/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.42/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.60/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.28/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $27.67/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.06/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.92/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.80/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in McAllen grew 18.4% from $23.69/hr (2019) to $28.06/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.80/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 McAllen 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 McAllen
Looking deeper at the earnings potential of a police officer in McAllen, those working 24 hours a week can reasonably expect an annual income of approximately $43,420. This is considerably less than full-time counterparts, who routinely command higher earnings. The structure of police pay includes mandatory overtime, often allowing officers to increase their take-home amounts significantly. For many, per diem assignments and extra-duty work can range from $35 to $75 per hour, providing additional income opportunities. Hourly rates also vary widely depending on the employing agency, with municipal departments typically offering lower rates than federal and certain state agencies. Officers may find trade-offs between lower hourly rates with benefits such as healthcare and retirement plans or higher rates that come without those perks. Negotiating pay can benefit from understanding these variations and communicating one's experience effectively.
More salary data for McAllen, TX:
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 McAllen. 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