Police Officer Salary in Durham, NC: $61,939 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Durham, NC earns a median $61,939/year (≈ $29.77/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Durham's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.6), that paycheck buys what $63,480 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.6% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Durham, North Carolina, police officers can expect a 2026 median annual salary of $61,939, a figure that falls significantly below the national median of $78,542. The projected salary range for officers in this city spans from $48,871 at the 10th percentile to $80,407 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the diverse pay scales that can result from differences in agency type, experience, and specialized training. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, which highlights the competitive nature of law enforcement salaries in various structures, including federal, state, and municipal forces. Given the health of the local job market, where approximately 1,040 police officers are employed, aspiring and current officers must consider both the compensation and the living conditions in Durham.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,871 | $23.50 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $56,724 | $27.27 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,939 | $29.77 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,110 | $36.60 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80,407 | $38.66 |
Median Salary Position
21.14% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Durham
In Durham, NC, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $31,536 (2026 est.). At $61,939, the local median is 21.14% below the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Durham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Durham Police Officer Pay Compares
Durham median: $61,939/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Durham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $60,369 | +2.60% more |
| National Average | $78,542 | -21.14% less |
Police Officers in Durham, NC earn a median of $61,939 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.14% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 2.60% above the North Carolina state average of $60,369.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Durham has a cost of living 2.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Durham, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.572 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $61,939 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $63,480 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.49% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$48,540
2025 BLS Actual
$60,100
2026 Current Est.
$61,939
2019–2027 Growth
+31.5%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Durham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48,540 | Actual |
| 2020 | $50,340 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,410 | Actual |
| 2022 | $50,660 | Actual |
| 2023 | $53,450 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,840 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,100 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,939 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,834 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Durham metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 23.8% from $48,540 (2019) to $60,100 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,834 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,294 (31.51%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Durham 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) | $48,871 – $56,724 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $56,724 – $61,939 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,939 – $76,110 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,110 – $80,407 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Durham
The local job market for police officers in Durham is supported by a cost-of-living index of 97.572, indicating that while salaries may appear lower than their national counterparts, the purchasing power is somewhat healthier. Municipal police departments generally offer lower salaries compared to federal agencies, which can command higher pay due to their robust funding and overtime potential. Factors driving the salary disparity within the region include the type of police agency, union contracts affecting overtime, special unit assignments, and educational pay incentives. For those looking to maximize compensation, pursuing specialized training, obtaining higher educational qualifications, or seeking roles in federal law enforcement agencies are all effective strategies. Understanding these dynamics is vital for current and future police officers considering their financial and career trajectories in Durham, NC.
More salary data for Durham, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $60,100 for police officersin the Durham 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