Police Officer Hourly Pay in Roanoke, VA: $29.68 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Roanoke, VA runs $29.68 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $61,733 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Roanoke's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.70 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $37,042 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Roanoke, Virginia, police officers earn a median hourly pay of $29.68, which falls significantly below the national hourly median of $37.76. This discrepancy can impact part-time officers, who often work three days a week, translating to less than $24,000 annually if they only rely on their base hourly rate. For per diem workers, the role often involves mobile duties in patrol cars, responding to calls, and paperwork at the precinct, adding versatility to their experience. The hourly wage range for police officers in Roanoke spans from $23.59 for entry-level positions to $38.54 for those who reach the higher echelons of their careers, reflecting official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections based on 2025 data and anticipated for 2026.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.59 | $188.72 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $27.27 | $218.16 |
| Median (P50) | $29.68 | $237.45 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $37.61 | $300.85 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.54 | $308.36 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Roanoke
Based on $29.68/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.68/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Roanoke, VA can expect to earn approximately $61,737 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $35,618. With a cost-of-living index of 93.62 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Roanoke.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Roanoke
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,187.25 | $5,145 | $61,737 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $712.35 | $3,087 | $37,042 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $474.90 | $2,058 | $24,695 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Roanoke) | $29.68 |
| 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 Roanoke, VA earn a median of $61,733 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.40% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 1.60% above the Virginia state average of $60,761.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.68/hr = $37,042/year (purchasing power: $39,567).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $61,737/year (purchasing power: $65,946).
CoL index: 93.618 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$22.68/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.80/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.68/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+34.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Roanoke (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $22.68/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.32/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.01/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.20/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $25.26/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.90/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.80/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.68/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $30.59/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Roanoke grew 27.0% from $22.68/hr (2019) to $28.80/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $30.59/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 Roanoke 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 Roanoke
For those considering a part-time role in law enforcement, annual earnings can be quite modest compared to full-time counterparts, especially when factoring in potential overtime, which can significantly boost income. Overtime pay for court appearances or extended shifts often conveys a premium of 1.5x the base rate, providing the opportunity to increase earnings by 20-50%. Furthermore, many officers engage in off-duty work, which includes event security and additional services, frequently earning between $35-$75 per hour. Hourly rates may differ across employer types in Roanoke; municipal police departments and county sheriffs typically offer different benefits packages compared to federal agencies like the FBI or U.S. Marshals. Officers must weigh these financial prospects against benefits such as health insurance. Those negotiating their pay should consider this trade-off for compensation in Roanoke, potentially seeking clarity on overtime, benefits, and availability of special assignments to enhance their overall earnings.
More salary data for Roanoke, VA:
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 Roanoke. 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