Police Officer Salary in Arizona: $83,948 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Arizona's 33 metropolitan areas, the average median police officer pay sits at $83,948/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 33-3051. Because Arizona sits at BEA RPP 98.5 (1% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $85,226 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Chandler ($85,645), Phoenix ($85,050), Mesa ($84,638).
In 2026, the average median salary for police officers in Arizona is projected to be $83,949, which is 6.9% higher than the national median of $78,542. The highest-paying city is Chandler at $88,266, while Sierra Vista offers the lowest at $61,949, resulting in a significant salary gap of $26,317. This discrepancy can be attributed to factors such as cost of living, local government budgets, and competition for qualified officers in urban areas versus smaller communities. Arizona's law enforcement landscape is influenced by state-specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws, which define the duties and responsibilities of officers. Demand drivers include population growth, crime rates, and community policing initiatives, all of which contribute to the evolving job market. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.06%, the outlook for police officer employment in Arizona remains positive. The state employs approximately 11,754 officers across 33 metro areas. Major cities like Phoenix at $87,653, Mesa at $87,228, Flagstaff at $81,077, and Scottsdale at $80,404 align closely with the state average, indicating a strong demand for skilled professionals in various regions.
Arizona Police Officer Salary Range
Overall salary range in Arizona: $44,569 (lowest entry-level) to $136,812 (highest top earner)
Arizona vs National Average
Arizona police officers earn 6.88% more than the national median (+$5,406/year difference).
Arizona Police Officer Salary Distribution (2026)
Police Officer salaries in Arizona range from $63,585 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $101,367 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $83,948. The Arizona median is $5,406 above the US national median of $78,542. The average hourly rate is $40.36/hr. Approximately 11,754 police officers are employed across 33 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$68,768
2025 BLS Actual
$81,456
2026 Current Est.
$83,948
2019–2027 Growth
+25.8%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Arizona (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $68,768 | Actual |
| 2020 | $69,450 | Actual |
| 2021 | $72,780 | Actual |
| 2022 | $73,742 | Actual |
| 2023 | $83,089 | Actual |
| 2024 | $84,924 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,456 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83,948 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,517 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Arizona metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 18.4% from $68,768 (2019) to $81,456 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,517 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,749 (25.81%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Arizona 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Arizona
Lowest Paying Cities in Arizona
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Sierra Vista | $61,949 |
| Yuma | $67,515 |
| Sedona | $71,623 |
| Nogales | $71,870 |
| Oro Valley | $72,322 |
Best Value Cities for Police Officers in Arizona
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Arizona cities offer the most purchasing power for police officers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler | $88,266 | 98.5 | $89,610 |
| Mesa | $87,228 | 98.5 | $88,556 |
| Phoenix | $87,653 | 103.316 | $84,840 |
| Tucson | $79,325 | 96.896 | $81,866 |
| Scottsdale | $80,404 | 98.5 | $81,628 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Arizona
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $63,585 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $83,948 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $101,367 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Arizona metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 33 Cities in Arizona
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chandler | $88,266 |
| 2 | Phoenix | $87,653 |
| 3 | Mesa | $87,228 |
| 4 | Flagstaff | $81,077 |
| 5 | Scottsdale | $80,404 |
| 6 | Glendale | $80,121 |
| 7 | Tucson | $79,325 |
| 8 | Gilbert | $78,229 |
| 9 | Peoria | $77,974 |
| 10 | Maricopa | $77,336 |
| 11 | Avondale | $77,221 |
| 12 | Marana | $76,931 |
| 13 | San Tan Valley | $76,708 |
| 14 | Tempe | $76,618 |
| 15 | Prescott Valley | $76,295 |
| 16 | Surprise | $76,130 |
| 17 | Goodyear | $76,013 |
| 18 | Prescott | $75,889 |
| 19 | Queen Creek | $75,692 |
| 20 | Buckeye | $74,985 |
| 21 | Lake Havasu City | $74,719 |
| 22 | Kingman | $74,500 |
| 23 | Florence | $74,477 |
| 24 | Casa Grande | $74,315 |
| 25 | Bullhead City | $74,305 |
| 26 | El Mirage | $73,974 |
| 27 | Sahuarita | $73,654 |
| 28 | Apache Junction | $73,559 |
| 29 | Oro Valley | $72,322 |
| 30 | Nogales | $71,870 |
| 31 | Sedona | $71,623 |
| 32 | Yuma | $67,515 |
| 33 | Sierra Vista | $61,949 |
More Arizona Salary Data
Compare Cities in Arizona
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do police officers make in Arizona in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for police officers in Arizona?
How does Arizona police officer pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level police officer salary in Arizona?
How many police officers are employed in Arizona?
Which Arizona city offers the best value for police officers?
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
Statewide 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. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 police officer compensation across Arizona. State averages are employment-weighted across 33 metro areas — larger metro areas with more police officerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
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