Police Officer Salary in Terre Haute, IN: $56,168 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Terre Haute, IN earns a median $56,168/year (≈ $27.00/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Terre Haute's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.8), that paycheck buys what $63,975 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 25.0% below the Indiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Terre Haute, Indiana, the landscape of police officer salaries reveals an intriguing disparity when compared to national figures. Projected for 2026, the median annual salary for a police officer stands at $56,168, which is significantly below the national average of $78,542—representing a difference of nearly 29%. Salaries within the city range from $43,296 at the 10th percentile to $64,619 at the 90th percentile, reflecting a diverse pay scale influenced by agency type and local budget conditions. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. The compensation structure highlights the cautious fiscal policy of Terre Haute's municipal government, which operates in a city characterized by a cost-of-living index of 87.797, suggesting that affordability plays a significant role in setting pay levels.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,296 | $20.82 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51,932 | $24.97 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $56,168 | $27.00 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $57,858 | $27.82 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $64,619 | $31.07 |
Median Salary Position
28.49% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Terre Haute
In Terre Haute, IN, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $21,323 (2026 est.). At $56,168, the local median is 28.49% below the national median of $78,542.
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At 40 hours/week in Terre Haute: You'd be above the median
How Terre Haute Police Officer Pay Compares
Terre Haute median: $56,168/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Terre Haute Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Average | $74,890 | -25.00% less |
| National Average | $78,542 | -28.49% less |
Police Officers in Terre Haute, IN earn a median of $56,168 per year (2026 est.), which is 28.49% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 25.00% below the Indiana state average of $74,890.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Terre Haute has a cost of living 12.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Terre Haute, IN has a cost-of-living index of 87.797 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $56,168 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $63,975 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.9% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$42,780
2025 BLS Actual
$54,500
2026 Current Est.
$56,168
2019–2027 Growth
+35.3%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Terre Haute (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42,780 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,090 | Actual |
| 2021 | $50,960 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,070 | Actual |
| 2023 | $61,340 | Actual |
| 2024 | $57,050 | Actual |
| 2025 | $54,500 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $56,168 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $57,886 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Terre Haute metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 27.4% from $42,780 (2019) to $54,500 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $57,886 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,106 (35.31%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Terre Haute 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) | $43,296 – $51,932 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $51,932 – $56,168 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $56,168 – $57,858 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $57,858 – $64,619 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Terre Haute
The job market for police officers in Terre Haute employs around 240 individuals, a healthy number in a city of its size. Given the region's cost of living, the actual purchasing power of police officer salaries may not align optimally with the median figures. Among local employers, municipal police departments generally lead in pay, although federal positions, such as those within the FBI, can command higher salaries in other regions. Factors that contribute to pay disparities include union contracts, overtime structures, and specialized assignments that offer additional stipends. Officers aiming to maximize their income should consider pursuing advanced education for educational incentive pay opportunities and seeking roles within specialized units, as these can lead to significant financial benefits within the Terre Haute market. Understanding these elements can enhance one’s overall compensation strategy, particularly in a job landscape that prioritizes both experience and specialization.
More salary data for Terre Haute, IN:
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 $54,500 for police officersin the Terre Haute 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