Police Officer Salary in Cape Girardeau, MO: $57,724 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Cape Girardeau, MO earns a median $57,724/year (≈ $27.75/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Cape Girardeau's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.1), that paycheck buys what $67,060 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.3% below the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $57,724 for 2026, police officers in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, find themselves operating in a financial environment that underlines the importance of a robust pension multiplier formula in their long-term retirement planning. The salary range for officers extends from $45,315 at the tenth percentile to $77,233 at the ninetieth percentile, providing a comprehensive view of earnings potential in the field. These figures, derived from projected data based on 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlight a clear disparity when compared to the national median salary of $78,542. This gap emphasizes the consideration for officers in Cape Girardeau as they navigate their career trajectories, especially when factoring in local job market conditions.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $45,315 | $21.79 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,727 | $22.94 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $57,724 | $27.75 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $60,970 | $29.31 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $77,233 | $37.13 |
Median Salary Position
26.51% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cape Girardeau
In Cape Girardeau, MO, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $31,918 (2026 est.). At $57,724, the local median is 26.51% below the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cape Girardeau: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cape Girardeau Police Officer Pay Compares
Cape Girardeau median: $57,724/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cape Girardeau Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $60,954 | -5.30% less |
| National Average | $78,542 | -26.51% less |
Police Officers in Cape Girardeau, MO earn a median of $57,724 per year (2026 est.), which is 26.51% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 5.30% below the Missouri state average of $60,954.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cape Girardeau has a cost of living 13.92% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cape Girardeau, MO has a cost-of-living index of 86.078 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $57,724 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $67,060 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.17% 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
$42,420
2025 BLS Actual
$56,010
2026 Current Est.
$57,724
2019–2027 Growth
+40.2%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Cape Girardeau (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42,420 | Actual |
| 2020 | $44,180 | Actual |
| 2021 | $44,070 | Actual |
| 2022 | $44,700 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,090 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,270 | Actual |
| 2025 | $56,010 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $57,724 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $59,490 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cape Girardeau metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 32.0% from $42,420 (2019) to $56,010 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $59,490 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,070 (40.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cape Girardeau 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) | $45,315 – $47,727 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,727 – $57,724 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $57,724 – $60,970 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $60,970 – $77,233 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Cape Girardeau
In the local job market, Cape Girardeau employs around 150 officers, but the cost of living is measured at a competitive index of 86.078, which indicates that housing and other expenses are generally more manageable than in many other regions. This enhanced purchasing power can improve the quality of life for officers and their families. Employers, particularly municipal police departments, tend to provide the most substantial salaries within the area, making them a primary choice for local law enforcement careers. Factors contributing to the pay variance include agency type, with federal positions typically offering higher salaries compared to municipal counterparts. Additionally, elements such as union representations, overtime structure, special unit assignments, and educational incentive pay play significant roles in determining overall compensation. Officers seeking to maximize their earnings in Cape Girardeau should consider pursuing specialized training or additional certifications, which are often rewarded with higher pay and benefits, effectively enhancing their financial standing in the community.
More salary data for Cape Girardeau, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do police officers make in Cape Girardeau, MO in 2026?
Is Cape Girardeau, MO a good place to work as a police officer?
Can police officers make $100K in Cape Girardeau?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted police officer salary in Cape Girardeau?
How much does a police officer make per hour in Cape Girardeau?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Missouri
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 $56,010 for police officersin the Cape Girardeau 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