Police Officer Salary in Kansas: $63,219 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Kansas's 22 metropolitan areas, the average median police officer pay sits at $63,219/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 33-3051. Because Kansas sits at BEA RPP 90.9 (9% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $69,548 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Overland Park ($70,407), Olathe ($69,512), Lenexa ($69,342).
In 2026, the average median salary for a police officer in Kansas is projected to be $63,219, which is significantly lower than the national median of $78,542, revealing a 19.5% gap. The highest-paying city in the state is Overland Park, where police officers can expect to earn $72,561, while the lowest-paying city, Manhattan, sees salaries at $53,818. The disparity in pay between these locations can be attributed to factors such as cost of living, local government budgets, and the demand for law enforcement resources in suburban versus rural areas. Kansas requires police officers to complete state licensing, which includes certification training and passing examinations, ensuring a standardized level of proficiency across the state. The projected growth rate for police officer employment in Kansas is 3.06% annually, indicating a steady demand for law enforcement professionals. As of 2026, there are 2,431 police officers employed across the state, with the top five cities offering competitive wages being Overland Park ($72,561), Olathe ($71,639), Lenexa ($71,464), Garden City ($70,757), and Derby ($70,402). These figures reflect the ongoing evolution of the law enforcement field in Kansas, driven by community needs and safety considerations.
Kansas Police Officer Salary Range
Overall salary range in Kansas: $38,234 (lowest entry-level) to $112,470 (highest top earner)
Kansas vs National Average
Kansas police officers earn 19.51% less than the national median ($-15,323/year difference).
Kansas Police Officer Salary Distribution (2026)
Police Officer salaries in Kansas range from $48,000 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $89,104 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $63,219. The Kansas median is $15,323 below the US national median of $78,542. The average hourly rate is $30.39/hr. Approximately 2,431 police officers are employed across 22 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$48,168
2025 BLS Actual
$61,342
2026 Current Est.
$63,219
2019–2027 Growth
+35.3%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Kansas (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48,168 | Actual |
| 2020 | $48,410 | Actual |
| 2021 | $50,806 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,629 | Actual |
| 2023 | $53,968 | Actual |
| 2024 | $57,054 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,342 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63,219 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,154 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kansas metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 27.4% from $48,168 (2019) to $61,342 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,154 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,986 (35.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kansas 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 Kansas
Lowest Paying Cities in Kansas
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Manhattan | $53,818 |
| Wichita | $62,702 |
| Kansas City | $65,299 |
| Lawrence | $65,319 |
| Topeka | $65,876 |
Best Value Cities for Police Officers in Kansas
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Kansas cities offer the most purchasing power for police officers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overland Park | $72,561 | 90.9 | $79,825 |
| Olathe | $71,639 | 90.9 | $78,811 |
| Lenexa | $71,464 | 90.9 | $78,618 |
| Garden City | $70,757 | 90.9 | $77,840 |
| Derby | $70,402 | 90.9 | $77,450 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Kansas
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $48,000 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $63,219 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $89,104 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Kansas metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 22 Cities in Kansas
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overland Park | $72,561 |
| 2 | Olathe | $71,639 |
| 3 | Lenexa | $71,464 |
| 4 | Garden City | $70,757 |
| 5 | Derby | $70,402 |
| 6 | Hutchinson | $69,843 |
| 7 | Leavenworth | $69,821 |
| 8 | Shawnee | $69,598 |
| 9 | Salina | $69,084 |
| 10 | Leawood | $68,702 |
| 11 | Dodge City | $67,543 |
| 12 | Junction City | $67,328 |
| 13 | Prairie Village | $67,044 |
| 14 | Hays | $66,846 |
| 15 | Liberal | $66,588 |
| 16 | Gardner | $66,207 |
| 17 | Emporia | $65,911 |
| 18 | Topeka | $65,876 |
| 19 | Lawrence | $65,319 |
| 20 | Kansas City | $65,299 |
| 21 | Wichita | $62,702 |
| 22 | Manhattan | $53,818 |
More Kansas Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced police officers.
Explore More Police Officer Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do police officers make in Kansas in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for police officers in Kansas?
How does Kansas police officer pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level police officer salary in Kansas?
How many police officers are employed in Kansas?
Which Kansas 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 Kansas. State averages are employment-weighted across 22 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