Police Officer Salary in Athens, GA: $62,568 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Athens, GA earns a median $62,568/year (≈ $30.08/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Athens's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.3), that paycheck buys what $67,030 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.3% above the Georgia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Athens, Georgia, police officers receive a median annual salary of $62,568, which is noticeably lower than the national median of $78,542. The salary range for these officers varies significantly, with the bottom 10% earning around $42,997, while the top 90% can make as much as $77,305. These figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, highlighting the structural differences in law enforcement pay based on agency type. Federal agencies typically offer higher salaries, followed by municipal and state departments, indicating a clear preference among aspiring officers for federal positions when considering overall compensation. This landscape shapes Athens's law enforcement job opportunities over time, particularly as the sector expands with an expected annual growth rate of 3.06%.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,997 | $20.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,847 | $28.77 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,568 | $30.08 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $75,677 | $36.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $77,305 | $37.16 |
Median Salary Position
20.34% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Athens
In Athens, GA, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $34,308 (2026 est.). At $62,568, the local median is 20.34% below the national median of $78,542.
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At 40 hours/week in Athens: You'd be above the median
How Athens Police Officer Pay Compares
Athens median: $62,568/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Athens Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Average | $59,988 | +4.30% more |
| National Average | $78,542 | -20.34% less |
Police Officers in Athens, GA earn a median of $62,568 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.34% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 4.30% above the Georgia state average of $59,988.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Athens has a cost of living 6.66% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Athens, GA has a cost-of-living index of 93.343 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $62,568 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $67,030 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.13% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$42,270
2025 BLS Actual
$60,710
2026 Current Est.
$62,568
2019–2027 Growth
+52.5%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Athens (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42,270 | Actual |
| 2020 | $43,380 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,410 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,210 | Actual |
| 2023 | $53,730 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,920 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,710 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,568 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64,482 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Athens metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 43.6% from $42,270 (2019) to $60,710 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $64,482 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,212 (52.55%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Athens 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) | $42,997 – $59,847 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,847 – $62,568 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,568 – $75,677 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $75,677 – $77,305 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Athens
With approximately 570 police officers employed in Athens, the local job market displays a robust demand for law enforcement professionals. The cost of living index for the area sits at 93.343, which translates to a lower-than-average cost of living compared to national standards, impacting purchasing power positively for officers. Among the employers in the region, municipal police departments tend to provide competitive pay, followed closely by the county sheriff’s office. Variations in salary are driven by several factors, including agency type, which typically sees federal positions offering the most competitive wages. Strategies to maximize pay in Athens include seeking advanced training for specialized unit assignments, assessing opportunities for overtime, and taking advantage of educational incentives. Understanding how the pension multiplier formula affects long-term earnings can also be crucial for officers planning their careers in law enforcement.
More salary data for Athens, GA:
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 $60,710 for police officersin the Athens 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