Police Officer Salary in District of Columbia: $86,570 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across District of Columbia's 1 metropolitan areas, the average median police officer pay sits at $86,570/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 33-3051. Because District of Columbia sits at BEA RPP 117.0 (17% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $73,991 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Washington ($84,000).
In 2026, police officers in the District of Columbia can expect to earn an average median salary of $86,570, which is notably higher than the national median of $78,542. This represents a salary gap of +10.2% above the national average. Interestingly, the highest and lowest paying cities in this area are both Washington, with salaries remaining consistent at $86,570. This uniformity is influenced by the centralized policing structure and high cost of living in the city, which tends to standardize pay. The District of Columbia's specific factors include rigorous state licensing requirements, which ensure that all officers meet certain standards before serving. Additionally, the scope of practice laws and ongoing demand for law enforcement due to urban challenges drive the need for a well-resourced police force. The job market for police officers reflects a promising outlook, with a projected growth rate of 3.06% annually, based on 2025 BLS data. Overall, the strong demand for public safety and community protection in the District underscores the value placed on police officers, contributing to the healthy salary projections in 2026.
District of Columbia Police Officer Salary Range
Overall salary range in District of Columbia: $65,474 (lowest entry-level) to $122,889 (highest top earner)
District of Columbia vs National Average
District of Columbia police officers earn 10.22% more than the national median (+$8,028/year difference).
District of Columbia Police Officer Salary Distribution (2026)
Police Officer salaries in District of Columbia range from $65,474 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $122,889 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $86,570. The District of Columbia median is $8,028 above the US national median of $78,542. The average hourly rate is $41.63/hr. Approximately 14,630 police officers are employed across 1 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$73,080
2025 BLS Actual
$84,000
2026 Current Est.
$86,570
2019–2027 Growth
+22.1%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in District of Columbia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $73,080 | Actual |
| 2020 | $75,500 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,880 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,380 | Actual |
| 2023 | $77,160 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,430 | Actual |
| 2025 | $84,000 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,570 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $89,219 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the District of Columbia metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 14.9% from $73,080 (2019) to $84,000 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $89,219 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,139 (22.08%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the District of Columbia 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 1 Highest Paying Cities in District of Columbia
Salary by Experience Level in District of Columbia
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $65,474 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $86,570 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $122,889 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across District of Columbia metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 1 Cities in District of Columbia
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $86,570 |
More District of Columbia Salary Data
Explore More Police Officer Salary Data
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
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 District of Columbia. State averages are employment-weighted across 1 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