Police Officer Salary in Dothan, AL: $61,022 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Dothan, AL earns a median $61,022/year (≈ $29.33/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Dothan's price level (16% below national, BEA RPP 83.8), that paycheck buys what $72,790 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.1% above the Alabama state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, police officers in Dothan, Alabama are projected to earn a median annual salary of $61,022. This figure reflects a competitive range, with salaries spanning from $36,576 at the lower end (10th percentile) to $79,634 for the top earners (90th percentile). Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, Dothan's police officer pay significantly lags behind the national median of $78,542, making it critical for law enforcement professionals to consider the economic realities impacting their compensation. Overtime opportunities through mandatory court appearances and special assignments play a pivotal role in enhancing effective pay, vital for officers who may need to supplement their earnings to accommodate for the lower baseline salaries prevalent in the region.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36,576 | $17.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $44,718 | $21.50 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,022 | $29.33 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $61,475 | $29.56 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $79,634 | $38.29 |
Median Salary Position
22.31% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Dothan
In Dothan, AL, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $43,058 (2026 est.). At $61,022, the local median is 22.31% below the national median of $78,542.
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At 40 hours/week in Dothan: You'd be above the median
How Dothan Police Officer Pay Compares
Dothan median: $61,022/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Dothan Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Average | $59,767 | +2.10% more |
| National Average | $78,542 | -22.31% less |
Police Officers in Dothan, AL earn a median of $61,022 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.31% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 2.10% above the Alabama state average of $59,767.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Dothan has a cost of living 16.17% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Dothan, AL has a cost-of-living index of 83.833 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $61,022 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,790 in an average-cost city — an effective 19.28% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$40,220
2025 BLS Actual
$59,210
2026 Current Est.
$61,022
2019–2027 Growth
+56.4%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Dothan (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $40,220 | Actual |
| 2020 | $41,510 | Actual |
| 2021 | $40,430 | Actual |
| 2022 | $44,200 | Actual |
| 2023 | $51,940 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,420 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,210 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,022 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $62,889 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Dothan metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 47.2% from $40,220 (2019) to $59,210 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $62,889 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,669 (56.36%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Dothan 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $36,576 – $44,718 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $44,718 – $61,022 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,022 – $61,475 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $61,475 – $79,634 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Dothan
With approximately 430 police officers employed locally, Dothan's job market for law enforcement presents unique dynamics shaped by the cost of living index, currently pegged at 83.833, which is below the national average. This economic backdrop means that take-home purchasing power can be limited for public safety workers. Among the various types of employers, municipal police departments offer competitive salaries, often closely followed by county sheriff's offices, whereas federal law enforcement positions generally offer higher wages and benefits. The salary spread is influenced by factors such as agency type, special unit assignments, and overtime structures tied to contract provisions. For Dothan officers, maximizing pay can be enhanced by pursuing educational incentives and actively seeking positions in specialized units. Ultimately, strategic career choices and additional training can provide a pathway for increased compensation within this market.
More salary data for Dothan, AL:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $59,210 for police officersin the Dothan metropolitan area. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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