Police Officer Salary in New York: $104,423 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across New York's 39 metropolitan areas, the average median police officer pay sits at $104,423/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 33-3051. Because New York sits at BEA RPP 115.9 (16% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $90,097 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: New York ($105,540), Rochester ($92,920), Poughkeepsie ($89,284).

In 2026, police officer salaries in New York average a median of $104,422, significantly higher than the national median of $78,542, marking a 33.0% difference. The highest-paying city in the state is New York, where the average salary reaches $108,770, while the lowest is Rome, averaging $61,726. This salary disparity can be attributed to factors such as cost of living, local crime rates, and demand for policing resources, which can vary greatly between urban and rural settings. New York has specific licensing requirements and regulations that shape the profession. The state demands comprehensive training and ongoing education, reflecting its commitment to professional standards. The job market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3.06%, aligning with trends in public safety and law enforcement needs. Cities like Rochester, at $95,763, and Poughkeepsie, at $92,016, also show strong salary averages, indicating that larger metro areas tend to offer higher wages due to increased responsibilities and public safety demands. Overall, the expected salary growth and ongoing demand for police officers suggest a stable and potentially rewarding career path in New York, particularly for candidates willing to pursue opportunities in higher-paying urban centers.
New York Police Officer Salary Range
Overall salary range in New York: $39,781 (lowest entry-level) to $135,720 (highest top earner)
New York vs National Average
New York police officers earn 32.95% more than the national median (+$25,881/year difference).
New York Police Officer Salary Distribution (2026)
Police Officer salaries in New York range from $57,743 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $130,301 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $104,423. The New York median is $25,881 above the US national median of $78,542. The average hourly rate is $50.20/hr. Approximately 65,310 police officers are employed across 39 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$85,695
2025 BLS Actual
$101,322
2026 Current Est.
$104,423
2019–2027 Growth
+25.6%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in New York (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $85,695 | Actual |
| 2020 | $89,283 | Actual |
| 2021 | $78,866 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,921 | Actual |
| 2023 | $92,781 | Actual |
| 2024 | $101,338 | Actual |
| 2025 | $101,322 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $104,423 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $107,618 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the New York metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 18.2% from $85,695 (2019) to $101,322 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $107,618 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,923 (25.58%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New York 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in New York
Lowest Paying Cities in New York
Best Value Cities for Police Officers in New York
When adjusted for local cost of living, these New York cities offer the most purchasing power for police officers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $95,763 | 97.035 | $98,689 |
| New York | $108,770 | 112.563 | $96,630 |
| Binghamton | $86,900 | 92.863 | $93,579 |
| Watertown | $81,974 | 87.69 | $93,482 |
| Buffalo | $83,427 | 95.844 | $87,045 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in New York
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $57,743 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $104,423 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $130,301 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across New York metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 39 Cities in New York
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $108,770 |
| 2 | Rochester | $95,763 |
| 3 | Poughkeepsie | $92,016 |
| 4 | Kiryas Joel | $90,621 |
| 5 | Newburgh | $88,652 |
| 6 | Binghamton | $86,900 |
| 7 | Ithaca | $86,900 |
| 8 | Yonkers | $84,086 |
| 9 | Buffalo | $83,427 |
| 10 | New Rochelle | $82,352 |
| 11 | Troy | $82,231 |
| 12 | Watertown | $81,974 |
| 13 | Mount Vernon | $81,430 |
| 14 | Long Beach | $80,803 |
| 15 | Niagara Falls | $80,758 |
| 16 | Albany | $80,634 |
| 17 | Spring Valley | $79,893 |
| 18 | White Plains | $79,788 |
| 19 | Jamestown | $79,690 |
| 20 | Valley Stream | $79,562 |
| 21 | Middletown | $79,231 |
| 22 | Hempstead | $79,145 |
| 23 | Schenectady | $78,883 |
| 24 | Saratoga Springs | $78,754 |
| 25 | North Tonawanda | $78,291 |
| 26 | Auburn | $77,908 |
| 27 | Freeport | $77,686 |
| 28 | Syracuse | $77,676 |
| 29 | Oswego | $76,880 |
| 30 | Lackawanna | $76,720 |
| 31 | Amsterdam | $76,683 |
| 32 | Oneonta | $76,497 |
| 33 | Glens Falls | $76,058 |
| 34 | Plattsburgh | $75,709 |
| 35 | Cortland | $75,480 |
| 36 | Kingston | $70,833 |
| 37 | Elmira | $67,175 |
| 38 | Utica | $62,362 |
| 39 | Rome | $61,726 |
More New York Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore police officer hourly pay in New York cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced police officers.
Compare Cities in New York
View all comparisons →Explore More Police Officer Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do police officers make in New York in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for police officers in New York?
How does New York police officer pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level police officer salary in New York?
How many police officers are employed in New York?
Which New York city offers the best value for police officers?
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
Statewide 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. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 police officer compensation across New York. State averages are employment-weighted across 39 metro areas — larger metro areas with more police officerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
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