Police Officer Salary in St. Louis, MO: $75,481 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in St. Louis, MO earns a median $75,481/year (≈ $36.29/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in St. Louis's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.1), that paycheck buys what $79,380 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 23.8% above the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, police officers in St. Louis, Missouri, are expected to earn a median annual salary of $75,481, a figure that reflects a slight 3.9% decrease compared to the national median of $78,542. The salary range for these positions spans from $50,025 at the lower tenth percentile to $95,320 at the higher ninetieth percentile, indicating substantial variation in pay based on experience, role, and department type. This data, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, highlights not only the base pay but also the additional earnings potential through mandatory overtime and special details, which are common in the job structure. With a workforce of approximately 5,950 police officers in the area, the dynamics of the local job market are critical for understanding compensation trends, especially as St. Louis continues to navigate budget constraints and community expectations.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,025 | $24.05 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62,310 | $29.96 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $75,481 | $36.29 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $82,242 | $39.53 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $95,320 | $45.83 |
Median Salary Position
3.9% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Louis
In St. Louis, MO, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $45,295 (2026 est.). At $75,481, the local median is 3.9% below the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Louis: You'd be above the median
How St. Louis Police Officer Pay Compares
St. Louis median: $75,481/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Louis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $60,970 | +23.80% more |
| National Average | $78,542 | -3.90% less |
Police Officers in St. Louis, MO earn a median of $75,481 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.90% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 23.80% above the Missouri state average of $60,970.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Louis has a cost of living 4.91% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Louis, MO has a cost-of-living index of 95.088 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $75,481 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $79,380 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.17% 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
$62,140
2025 BLS Actual
$73,240
2026 Current Est.
$75,481
2019–2027 Growth
+25.2%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in St. Louis (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,140 | Actual |
| 2020 | $65,480 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,970 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,120 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,650 | Actual |
| 2024 | $72,020 | Actual |
| 2025 | $73,240 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $75,481 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $77,791 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Louis metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 17.9% from $62,140 (2019) to $73,240 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $77,791 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,651 (25.19%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Louis 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) | $50,025 – $62,310 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $62,310 – $75,481 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $75,481 – $82,242 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $82,242 – $95,320 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in St. Louis
Examining the police officer pay in St. Louis MO requires awareness of the local cost of living index, which stands at 95.088, suggesting that living expenses are below the national average. This reality can impact the purchasing power of officers when considering their take-home pay. Among local employers, municipal police departments generally offer competitive salaries, but other agencies like federal law enforcement tend to pay significantly more, reflecting their broader budget and responsibilities. Factors driving compensation disparities include union contract structures, availability of overtime, and special unit assignments such as SWAT or K-9 teams, which come with additional stipends. Officers looking to maximize their earnings in St. Louis should consider pursuing special qualifications or roles, as educational incentives can add up to 10% to salaries, and carefully navigating agency options may lead to stronger financial futures.
More salary data for St. Louis, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do police officers make in St. Louis, MO in 2026?
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a police officer?
Can police officers make $100K in St. Louis?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted police officer salary in St. Louis?
How much does a police officer make per hour in St. Louis?
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 $73,240 for police officersin the St. Louis 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