Police Officer Salary in Rochester, MN: $79,593 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Rochester, MN earns a median $79,593/year (≈ $38.27/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Rochester's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.8), that paycheck buys what $87,637 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Minnesota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Rochester, Minnesota, police officers earn a median annual salary of $79,593, slightly above the national average of $78,542 for similar positions across the United States. Officers’ salaries in this city range from $63,176 at the 10th percentile to $99,381 at the 90th percentile, showcasing a diverse pay scale reflecting varying levels of experience, specialty assignments, and overtime opportunities. This data stems from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, indicating a stable compensation environment for law enforcement within Rochester's economic landscape. With mandatory court visits and special detail duties often accruing additional overtime, these factors can significantly enhance effective pay, making it crucial for officers to understand the full salary potential tied to these assignments.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $63,176 | $30.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $67,257 | $32.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,593 | $38.27 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $92,641 | $44.54 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $99,381 | $47.78 |
Median Salary Position
1.34% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Rochester
In Rochester, MN, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $36,205 (2026 est.). At $79,593, the local median is 1.34% above the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Rochester: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Rochester Police Officer Pay Compares
Rochester median: $79,593/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Rochester Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $78,542 | +1.34% more |
Police Officers in Rochester, MN earn a median of $79,593 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.34% higher than the national median of $78,542.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Rochester has a cost of living 9.18% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Rochester, MN has a cost-of-living index of 90.821 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $79,593 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $87,637 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.11% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$67,000
2025 BLS Actual
$77,230
2026 Current Est.
$79,593
2019–2027 Growth
+22.4%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Rochester (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $67,000 | Actual |
| 2020 | $68,260 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,970 | Actual |
| 2022 | $74,550 | Actual |
| 2023 | $77,570 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,830 | Actual |
| 2025 | $77,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,593 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $82,029 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Rochester metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 15.3% from $67,000 (2019) to $77,230 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $82,029 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,029 (22.43%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Rochester 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) | $63,176 – $67,257 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $67,257 – $79,593 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,593 – $92,641 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $92,641 – $99,381 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Rochester
Analyzing the local job market, Rochester has about 390 police officers employed, contributing to a robust law enforcement community. Despite a cost of living index score of 90.821, which is below the national average, the salaries in the region still present a reasonable level of take-home purchasing power for officers. Typically, municipal police departments provide competitive wages, but salaries from federal law enforcement agencies often exceed local pay scales due to benefits and structured salary increments like LEAP for federal agents. Factors that influence salary differences include agency type, overtime agreements, and specialty assignments such as SWAT or K-9 units. To maximize their police officer pay in Rochester, officers should embrace opportunities for continued education, seek out overtime shifts, and consider advanced qualifications that enhance their standing and pay scales within their departments.
More salary data for Rochester, MN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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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 $77,230 for police officersin the Rochester 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