Police Officer Salary in Lafayette, LA: $51,427 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Lafayette, LA earns a median $51,427/year (≈ $24.72/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Lafayette's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 87.2), that paycheck buys what $58,970 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% above the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lafayette, Louisiana, the projected police officer salary for 2026 is set at $51,427, which reflects the economic climate of the region. This salary is notably lower than the national median of $78,542, indicating a significant 34.52% disparity. The pay scale in Lafayette ranges from $37,854 at the 10th percentile to $64,248 at the 90th percentile. These figures, sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS data and projected to 2026, suggest that municipal officers generally earn less compared to their federal counterparts and even some state police positions. Given the structure of law enforcement in Louisiana, individuals opting for municipal police work will find themselves facing an environment where compensation is tighter, leading to a competitive landscape amongst law enforcement agencies.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,854 | $18.20 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,635 | $22.43 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $51,427 | $24.72 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $61,991 | $29.80 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $64,248 | $30.89 |
Median Salary Position
34.52% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lafayette
In Lafayette, LA, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,394 (2026 est.). At $51,427, the local median is 34.52% below the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lafayette: You'd be above the median
How Lafayette Police Officer Pay Compares
Lafayette median: $51,427/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lafayette Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $50,320 | +2.20% more |
| National Average | $78,542 | -34.52% less |
Police Officers in Lafayette, LA earn a median of $51,427 per year (2026 est.), which is 34.52% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 2.20% above the Louisiana state average of $50,320.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lafayette has a cost of living 12.79% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lafayette, LA has a cost-of-living index of 87.209 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $51,427 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $58,970 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.67% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$40,250
2025 BLS Actual
$49,900
2026 Current Est.
$51,427
2019–2027 Growth
+31.7%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Lafayette (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $40,250 | Actual |
| 2020 | $38,200 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,770 | Actual |
| 2022 | $42,730 | Actual |
| 2023 | $47,270 | Actual |
| 2024 | $50,910 | Actual |
| 2025 | $49,900 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $51,427 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $53,001 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lafayette metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 24.0% from $40,250 (2019) to $49,900 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $53,001 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,751 (31.68%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lafayette 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) | $37,854 – $46,635 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,635 – $51,427 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $51,427 – $61,991 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $61,991 – $64,248 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Lafayette
With approximately 910 police officers currently employed in the Lafayette area, job opportunities remain steady, though the cost of living is a crucial factor to unearth the real value of officer compensation. Lafayette's cost-of-living index stands at 87.209, which is below the national average, suggesting that officers may have better purchasing power compared to those in areas with higher living costs, even if salaries are lower. Among local employers, municipal police departments typically offer salaries at the lower end of the spectrum, while federal agencies like the FBI and DEA often exceed the pay range of local law enforcement. Factors such as agency type, shift differentials, and overtime structures play significant roles in this salary landscape. For those aspiring for the highest pay, seeking assignments in specialized units or pursuing higher education can yield financial benefits in this market, thus strategically enhancing their overall compensation in Lafayette, LA.
More salary data for Lafayette, LA:
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 $49,900 for police officersin the Lafayette 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