Police Officer Salary in St. Cloud, MN: $79,233 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in St. Cloud, MN earns a median $79,233/year (≈ $38.09/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in St. Cloud's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.6), that paycheck buys what $90,416 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% below the Minnesota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Cloud, Minnesota, police officers can expect a median annual salary of $79,233 for 2026, which positions them slightly above the national average of $78,542. The salary range for officers in the area spans from a lower threshold of $59,703 to an upper limit of $103,173, reflecting the diverse opportunities available within local law enforcement. This pay structure, informed by official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, is bolstered by the potential for overtime, especially due to mandatory court appearances and special detail assignments. As court and event overtime is often part of the job, it can significantly enhance overall earnings, effectively driving the compensation higher than the base salary might suggest.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,703 | $28.70 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $76,233 | $36.65 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,233 | $38.09 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $96,474 | $46.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $103,173 | $49.60 |
Median Salary Position
0.88% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Cloud
In St. Cloud, MN, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $43,470 (2026 est.). At $79,233, the local median is 0.88% above the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Cloud: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Cloud Police Officer Pay Compares
St. Cloud median: $79,233/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Cloud Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $79,631 | -0.50% less |
| National Average | $78,542 | +0.88% more |
Police Officers in St. Cloud, MN earn a median of $79,233 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.88% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 0.50% below the Minnesota state average of $79,631.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Cloud has a cost of living 12.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Cloud, MN has a cost-of-living index of 87.632 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $79,233 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $90,416 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.11% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$69,010
2025 BLS Actual
$76,880
2026 Current Est.
$79,233
2019–2027 Growth
+18.3%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in St. Cloud (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $69,010 | Actual |
| 2020 | $69,570 | Actual |
| 2021 | $81,020 | Actual |
| 2022 | $75,710 | Actual |
| 2023 | $75,600 | Actual |
| 2024 | $76,090 | Actual |
| 2025 | $76,880 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,233 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $81,657 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Cloud metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 11.4% from $69,010 (2019) to $76,880 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $81,657 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,647 (18.33%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Cloud 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) | $59,703 – $76,233 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $76,233 – $79,233 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,233 – $96,474 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $96,474 – $103,173 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in St. Cloud
A competitive job market exists in St. Cloud, with approximately 380 police officers currently employed in the area. The cost of living in the region, however, is below the national average, evidenced by a CoL index of 87.632, which can positively affect take-home pay and purchasing power for officers. Among various employers, municipal police departments generally rank as the primary payers, though opportunities at federal law enforcement agencies can offer higher salaries. Factors influencing the salary range for police officer pay in St. Cloud MN include agency type, which typically sees federal positions paying more than local departments, and union contracts that may provide for overtime and special unit assignments. To maximize earnings in this market, officers might consider pursuing specialized roles within law enforcement and taking advantage of educational incentives commonly offered by departments, which can yield substantial differences in pay.
More salary data for St. Cloud, MN:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do police officers make in St. Cloud, MN in 2026?
Is St. Cloud, MN a good place to work as a police officer?
Can police officers make $100K in St. Cloud?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted police officer salary in St. Cloud?
How much does a police officer make per hour in St. Cloud?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Minnesota
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 $76,880 for police officersin the St. Cloud 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