Police Officer Hourly Pay in The Woodlands, TX: $36.50 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in The Woodlands, TX runs $36.50 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $75,933 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against The Woodlands's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.0, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $38.02 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $45,557 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In The Woodlands, TX, the anticipated police officer hourly pay for 2026 is $36.50, which sits slightly below the national median of $37.76. This pay rate highlights the financial dynamics available for those entering the field, particularly affecting part-time officers working three days per week. Given the hourly responsibilities associated with policing—ranging from patrolling assigned beats and processing arrests at booking stations to participating in special operations like SWAT—the salary reflects the varied environments where officers operate. The hourly pay spans from $23.04 for entry-level positions, up to $56.35 for top-tier earners, illustrating the potential for advancement and increased earnings as officers build experience and take on additional responsibilities within The Woodlands Police Department.
About the The Woodlands Market
Salary estimated from Texas average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.04 | $184.35 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.52 | $228.13 |
| Median (P50) | $36.50 | $292.03 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $46.73 | $373.82 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $56.35 | $450.83 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in The Woodlands
Based on $36.50/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $36.50/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in The Woodlands, TX can expect to earn approximately $75,928 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $43,805. With a cost-of-living index of 96.00 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in The Woodlands.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in The Woodlands
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,460.15 | $6,327 | $75,928 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $876.09 | $3,796 | $45,557 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $584.06 | $2,531 | $30,371 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (The Woodlands) | $36.50 |
| 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 The Woodlands, TX earn a median of $75,933 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.32% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 1.20% below the Texas state average of $76,855.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $36.50/hr = $45,557/year (purchasing power: $47,455).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $75,928/year (purchasing power: $79,092).
CoL index: 96 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$29.35/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$35.42/hr
2026 Current Est.
$36.50/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in The Woodlands (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29.35/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $30.46/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $30.03/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $30.58/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $33.59/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $33.16/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $35.42/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $36.50/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $37.62/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in The Woodlands grew 20.7% from $29.35/hr (2019) to $35.42/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $37.62/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 The Woodlands 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 The Woodlands
Exploring the financial implications, part-time police officers working 24 hours a week could expect to bring home significantly less than their full-time counterparts, given the drop in total hours. Typically, full-time officers receive constructive overtime pay—often at a rate of 1.5 times their base for court appearances or pressing assignments—which can add around 20-50% to their earnings, making agency work occasionally appealing when balancing the trade-off of benefits. Opportunities for per diem police officer pay in The Woodlands, especially for those willing to accept shifts in agency or contract settings, can range from $35-$75 an hour during special events or off-duty jobs. Variances also arise from employer type; positions in federal law enforcement typically garner higher compensations compared to municipal roles. Officers must decide between a higher hourly wage without benefits or lower base pay with coverage, which becomes an essential negotiation point when considering available roles across the region.
More salary data for The Woodlands, 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 The Woodlands. 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 The Woodlands 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