Police Officer Salary in Garden City, KS: $70,757 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Garden City, KS earns a median $70,757/year (≈ $34.02/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Garden City's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $77,840 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% below the Kansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, police officers in Garden City, Kansas will have a projected median salary of $70,757, which reflects a significant gap when compared to the national median of $78,542. The pay scale in this region ranges from $45,284 at the 10th percentile to $101,442 at the 90th percentile, indicating a wide variance in compensation that likely reflects the diversity of duties across various law enforcement agencies. Moreover, these figures are local estimates derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences. Given the structural choices between federal, state, and municipal law enforcement in Garden City, potential officers may find that their pay trajectories differ greatly based on their respective agency affiliations.
About the Garden City Market
Salary estimated from Kansas average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $45,284 | $21.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $55,271 | $26.57 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $70,757 | $34.02 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $89,878 | $43.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $101,442 | $48.77 |
Median Salary Position
9.91% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Garden City
In Garden City, KS, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,158 (2026 est.). At $70,757, the local median is 9.91% below the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Garden City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Garden City Police Officer Pay Compares
Garden City median: $70,757/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Garden City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $71,399 | -0.90% less |
| National Average | $78,542 | -9.91% less |
Police Officers in Garden City, KS earn a median of $70,757 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.91% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 0.90% below the Kansas state average of $71,399.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Garden City has a cost of living 9.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Garden City, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.9 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $70,757 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $77,840 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.01% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,891
2025 BLS Actual
$68,656
2026 Current Est.
$70,757
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Garden City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,891 | Actual |
| 2020 | $59,044 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,206 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,269 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,116 | Actual |
| 2024 | $49,548 | Actual |
| 2025 | $68,656 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $70,757 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,922 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Garden City metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 20.7% from $56,891 (2019) to $68,656 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,922 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,031 (28.18%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Garden City 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) | $45,284 – $55,271 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $55,271 – $70,757 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $70,757 – $89,878 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $89,878 – $101,442 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Garden City
Despite the modest number of positions, with only six officers employed locally, the reality of Garden City's cost of living index at 90.9 suggests that while salaries might be lower than the national average, the relative purchasing power may hold steady. For those looking to maximize their earnings in this market, aligning with municipal departments, which typically offer better overall benefits, is crucial, as they can include valuable pension plans and overtime opportunities. Variables driving salary differences include agency type, potential for special assignments in units like SWAT, and education incentives which reward higher academic qualifications. For maximizing earnings, fostering union representation through organizations such as the NLEA or FOP can also play a pivotal role in advocating for better pay structures and benefits, which are essential considerations for current and prospective law enforcement professionals in Garden City.
More salary data for Garden City, KS:
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 $68,656 for police officersin the Garden City 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
Salary data for Garden City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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