Police Officer Salary in Louisiana: $52,487 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Louisiana's 20 metropolitan areas, the average median police officer pay sits at $52,487/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 33-3051. Because Louisiana sits at BEA RPP 90.3 (10% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $58,125 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Shreveport ($60,130), Bossier City ($59,175), Lake Charles ($56,290).
In 2026, the average median salary for police officers in Louisiana is projected to be $52,487, which is significantly lower than the national median of $78,542, representing a gap of -33.2%. Salary discrepancies among cities are evident, with Shreveport offering the highest pay at $61,970, while Hammond offers the lowest at $41,801. This difference is influenced by various local economic factors, cost of living, and the demand for law enforcement services in each area. In terms of licensing, Louisiana has specific requirements that must be met to become a police officer, including training at a certified academy. The scope of practice laws further dictate the roles officers can perform, which can vary by locality. Factors driving demand for law enforcement professionals include crime rates, population growth, and the focus on community policing initiatives. With a projected employment figure of 10,919 police officers and a growth rate of 3.06% annually, the job market outlook appears stable. Major cities like Bossier City, Lake Charles, Monroe, and Lafayette also illustrate varying salary scales, with Bossier City close to Shreveport at $60,986 and Lafayette at $51,427. Overall, the salary landscape indicates a need for consideration of local conditions when evaluating career prospects in law enforcement within the state.
Louisiana Police Officer Salary Range
Overall salary range in Louisiana: $29,391 (lowest entry-level) to $93,885 (highest top earner)
Louisiana vs National Average
Louisiana police officers earn 33.17% less than the national median ($-26,055/year difference).
Louisiana Police Officer Salary Distribution (2026)
Police Officer salaries in Louisiana range from $39,559 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $67,971 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $52,487. The Louisiana median is $26,055 below the US national median of $78,542. The average hourly rate is $25.23/hr. Approximately 10,919 police officers are employed across 20 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$43,394
2025 BLS Actual
$50,929
2026 Current Est.
$52,487
2019–2027 Growth
+24.7%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Louisiana (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $43,394 | Actual |
| 2020 | $44,615 | Actual |
| 2021 | $45,856 | Actual |
| 2022 | $44,537 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,720 | Actual |
| 2024 | $52,690 | Actual |
| 2025 | $50,929 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $52,487 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $54,093 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Louisiana metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 17.4% from $43,394 (2019) to $50,929 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $54,093 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,699 (24.66%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Louisiana 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 Louisiana
Lowest Paying Cities in Louisiana
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hammond | $41,801 |
| Thibodaux | $44,717 |
| Alexandria | $45,326 |
| Houma | $45,676 |
| Sulphur | $46,544 |
Best Value Cities for Police Officers in Louisiana
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Louisiana cities offer the most purchasing power for police officers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport | $61,970 | 84.766 | $73,107 |
| Lake Charles | $58,012 | 85.852 | $67,572 |
| Bossier City | $60,986 | 90.3 | $67,537 |
| Monroe | $52,221 | 83.597 | $62,468 |
| Lafayette | $51,427 | 87.209 | $58,970 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Louisiana
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $39,559 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $52,487 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $67,971 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Louisiana metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 20 Cities in Louisiana
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shreveport | $61,970 |
| 2 | Bossier City | $60,986 |
| 3 | Lake Charles | $58,012 |
| 4 | Monroe | $52,221 |
| 5 | Lafayette | $51,427 |
| 6 | Metairie | $50,652 |
| 7 | New Orleans | $50,468 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge | $50,201 |
| 9 | Kenner | $49,315 |
| 10 | Slidell | $49,252 |
| 11 | Ruston | $48,403 |
| 12 | Central | $48,354 |
| 13 | New Iberia | $47,682 |
| 14 | Natchitoches | $47,037 |
| 15 | Zachary | $46,813 |
| 16 | Sulphur | $46,544 |
| 17 | Houma | $45,676 |
| 18 | Alexandria | $45,326 |
| 19 | Thibodaux | $44,717 |
| 20 | Hammond | $41,801 |
More Louisiana Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore police officer hourly pay in Louisiana cities.
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 Louisiana in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for police officers in Louisiana?
How does Louisiana police officer pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level police officer salary in Louisiana?
How many police officers are employed in Louisiana?
Which Louisiana 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 Louisiana. State averages are employment-weighted across 20 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