Police Officer Salary in Sumter, SC: $56,621 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Sumter, SC earns a median $56,621/year (≈ $27.22/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Sumter's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.0), that paycheck buys what $64,327 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.1% below the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Sumter, South Carolina, officers entering the field can expect a median salary of $56,621 projected for 2026, which reflects the complexities of compensation within the local law enforcement landscape. The salary range for police officers in the area spans from $46,006 at the 10th percentile to $74,492 at the 90th percentile, according to projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data. A significant component of officer earnings often derives from overtime, particularly mandatory court appearances and special details, which can enhance an officer's effective pay. This overtime potential is crucial in a city where the average compensation trails the national median by nearly 28%, illuminating the economic pressures and opportunities faced by Sumter's police workforce.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,006 | $22.12 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,006 | $22.12 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $56,621 | $27.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $60,146 | $28.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $74,492 | $35.81 |
Median Salary Position
27.91% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sumter
In Sumter, SC, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $28,486 (2026 est.). At $56,621, the local median is 27.91% below the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Sumter: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Sumter Police Officer Pay Compares
Sumter median: $56,621/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Sumter Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $60,299 | -6.10% less |
| National Average | $78,542 | -27.91% less |
Police Officers in Sumter, SC earn a median of $56,621 per year (2026 est.), which is 27.91% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 6.10% below the South Carolina state average of $60,299.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Sumter has a cost of living 11.98% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Sumter, SC has a cost-of-living index of 88.02 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $56,621 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $64,327 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.61% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$38,030
2025 BLS Actual
$54,940
2026 Current Est.
$56,621
2019–2027 Growth
+53.4%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Sumter (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38,030 | Actual |
| 2020 | $39,110 | Actual |
| 2021 | $45,630 | Actual |
| 2022 | $43,400 | Actual |
| 2023 | $45,300 | Actual |
| 2024 | $52,030 | Actual |
| 2025 | $54,940 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $56,621 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,354 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Sumter metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 44.5% from $38,030 (2019) to $54,940 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,354 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,324 (53.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sumter 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) | $46,006 – $46,006 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,006 – $56,621 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $56,621 – $60,146 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $60,146 – $74,492 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Sumter
With 210 police officers employed in Sumter, the local market presents a unique context for evaluating salaries. The cost of living index, currently at 88.02, indicates that residents enjoy a lower-than-average living expense, which can provide officers with better purchasing power despite lower pay levels compared to national statistics. Municipal police departments in Sumter are typically the primary employers, and the variance in salaries among law enforcement agencies largely depends on the type of agency, collective bargaining agreements, and additional pay factors such as shift differentials and specialized assignments. Officers can strategically enhance their take-home pay by pursuing promotions, overtime opportunities, and additional training that may lead to educational incentives. Engaging in union activities and exploring career paths with federal agencies may also provide pathways to higher salaries as officers consider their long-term career trajectories in law enforcement.
More salary data for Sumter, SC:
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 $54,940 for police officersin the Sumter 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