Police Officer Hourly Pay in Wheeling, WV: $28.93 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Wheeling, WV runs $28.93 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $60,166 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Wheeling's regional price level (BEA RPP 88.3, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $32.75 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $36,103 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Wheeling, West Virginia, police officers earn a median hourly pay of $28.93, significantly lower than the national hourly median of $37.76. This hourly rate impacts part-time officers who typically work three days a week, amounting to around $43,000 annually, as well as those seeking per diem police officer pay in Wheeling. These officers frequently navigate various environments such as patrol vehicles, police station report-writing rooms, and perhaps even the courtroom during criminal trials. The hourly pay for officers in Wheeling ranges from $21.73 for entry-level positions to as much as $38.58 for top earners, according to official Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This pay structure reflects local market conditions and provides insights into the financial compensation police officers can expect in their daily duties.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21.73 | $173.80 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.34 | $202.74 |
| Median (P50) | $28.93 | $231.43 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35.79 | $286.34 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.58 | $308.60 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Wheeling
Based on $28.93/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.93/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Wheeling, WV can expect to earn approximately $60,172 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,715. With a cost-of-living index of 88.32 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Wheeling.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Wheeling
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,157.16 | $5,014 | $60,172 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $694.29 | $3,009 | $36,103 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $462.86 | $2,006 | $24,069 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Wheeling) | $28.93 |
| 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 Wheeling, WV earn a median of $60,166 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.40% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 4.00% above the West Virginia state average of $57,852.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.93/hr = $36,103/year (purchasing power: $40,876).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $60,172/year (purchasing power: $68,127).
CoL index: 88.323 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$22.07/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.07/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.93/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+35.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Wheeling (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $22.07/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.20/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.34/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.35/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.00/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.46/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.07/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.93/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.81/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Wheeling grew 27.2% from $22.07/hr (2019) to $28.07/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.81/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 Wheeling 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 Wheeling
Considering the financial landscape for part-time officers or those exploring per-diem opportunities, the earning potential can differ significantly from full-time positions. For example, working part-time as a police officer leads to an annual income of approximately $43,000, while full-time officers can earn significantly more, especially when factoring in overtime. This is particularly relevant as many police assignments come with mandatory overtime pay, typically at 1.5x the base rate. Furthermore, off-duty opportunities such as event security can provide additional income ranging from $35 to $75 per hour. Salary variations also exist depending on employer types in Wheeling; for instance, jobs with municipal police departments might not offer the same compensation as federal agencies, which can present attractive opportunities post-retirement. Officers may opt for lower hourly wages with access to health benefits, while higher rates may come without such advantages. Those in the field can improve their negotiation strategies by understanding local pay scales and the demand for law enforcement personnel in Wheeling.
More salary data for Wheeling, WV:
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 Wheeling. 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