Police Officer Salary

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).

Police Officer Salary in New York - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
New York police officer salary overview (2026)
$104,423
Avg Median Salary
$50.20
Avg Hourly Rate
65,310
Metro Employed
39
Cities

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

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$57,743
avg across 39 cities
Median
$104,423
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$130,301
avg across 39 cities

Overall salary range in New York: $39,781 (lowest entry-level) to $135,720 (highest top earner)

New York vs National Average

New York
$104,423
National Median
$78,542

New York police officers earn 32.95% more than the national median (+$25,881/year difference).

New York Police Officer Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing New York police officer salary percentiles: 10th percentile $57,743, 25th $59,968, Median $104,423, 75th $108,229, 90th $130,301. US national median is $78,542.$36.5K$73.0K$109.5K$145.9K$57.7K10thEntry Level$60.0K25thEarly Career$104.4KMedianMid Career$108.2K75thExperienced$130.3K90thTop EarnerUS Median $78.5K

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 (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for police officers in New York. Baseline $85,695 in 2025, projected to $107,618 by 2027.$73.1K$83.2K$93.2K$103.3K$113.4K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$85.7K$89.3K$78.9K$79.9K$92.8K$101.3K$101.3K$104.4K$107.6K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$85,695Actual
2020$89,283Actual
2021$78,866Actual
2022$79,921Actual
2023$92,781Actual
2024$101,338Actual
2025$101,322Actual
2026(current)$104,423Estimated
2027$107,618Projected

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 (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New York metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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

#1
New York
54,270 employed · $52.29/hr
$108,770
+4.16% vs avg
#2
Rochester
1,800 employed · $46.04/hr
$95,763
-8.29% vs avg
#3
Poughkeepsie
5 employed · $44.24/hr
$92,016
-11.88% vs avg
#4
Kiryas Joel
1,360 employed · $43.56/hr
$90,621
-13.22% vs avg
#5
Newburgh
6 employed · $42.63/hr
$88,652
-15.10% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in New York

CityMedian Salary
Rome$61,726
Utica$62,362
Elmira$67,175
Kingston$70,833
Cortland$75,480

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.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Rochester$95,76397.035$98,689
New York$108,770112.563$96,630
Binghamton$86,90092.863$93,579
Watertown$81,97487.69$93,482
Buffalo$83,42795.844$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 LevelEstimated 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

#CityMedian Salary
1New York$108,770
2Rochester$95,763
3Poughkeepsie$92,016
4Kiryas Joel$90,621
5Newburgh$88,652
6Binghamton$86,900
7Ithaca$86,900
8Yonkers$84,086
9Buffalo$83,427
10New Rochelle$82,352
11Troy$82,231
12Watertown$81,974
13Mount Vernon$81,430
14Long Beach$80,803
15Niagara Falls$80,758
16Albany$80,634
17Spring Valley$79,893
18White Plains$79,788
19Jamestown$79,690
20Valley Stream$79,562
21Middletown$79,231
22Hempstead$79,145
23Schenectady$78,883
24Saratoga Springs$78,754
25North Tonawanda$78,291
26Auburn$77,908
27Freeport$77,686
28Syracuse$77,676
29Oswego$76,880
30Lackawanna$76,720
31Amsterdam$76,683
32Oneonta$76,497
33Glens Falls$76,058
34Plattsburgh$75,709
35Cortland$75,480
36Kingston$70,833
37Elmira$67,175
38Utica$62,362
39Rome$61,726

More New York Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore police officer hourly pay in New York cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new police officers.

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?

The average median police officer salary in New York is $104,423/year across 39 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $61,726 in Rome to $108,770 in New York. This makes New York one of the higher-paying states, at 32.95% above the national median of $78,542. The state employs approximately 65,310 police officers.

What is the highest paying city for police officers in New York?

New York offers the highest police officer salary in New York at $108,770/year ($52.29/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are New York ($108,770), Rochester ($95,763), Poughkeepsie ($92,016). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for law enforcement services, and competition among employers for licensed police officers.

How does New York police officer pay compare to the national average?

New York's average police officer salary of $104,423 is 32.95% above the national median of $78,542 in 2026. The state employs approximately 65,310 police officers across 39 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level police officer salary in New York?

Entry-level police officers (10th percentile) in New York earn approximately $57,743/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $39,781 in lower-paying areas to $61,424 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many police officers are employed in New York?

New York employs approximately 65,310 police officers across 39 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes New York one of the larger employers of police officers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the law enforcement field expands and the population ages.

Which New York city offers the best value for police officers?

When adjusted for cost of living, Rochester offers the highest purchasing power for police officers in New York, with an adjusted salary of $98,689 (nominal: $95,763, CoL index: 97.035). This means your dollar goes 3% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
JL

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

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