Police Officer Salary in Sioux Falls, SD: $79,810 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Sioux Falls, SD earns a median $79,810/year (≈ $38.37/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Sioux Falls's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.6), that paycheck buys what $88,060 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.5% above the South Dakota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the projected median annual salary for police officers in 2026 is estimated to be $79,810, slightly above the national figure of $78,542 for the same year. The salaries for police officers in this region range from $59,105 at the lower tenth percentile to $97,804 at the ninetieth percentile, indicating a competitive pay scale within the state. These figures, derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 data and projected to 2026, reflect the varied compensation that officers can expect based on their experience, agency, and specialized roles. Given the structural choices among federal, state, and municipal law enforcement agencies, Sioux Falls offers a robust job market for officers, influenced by local demand and budget constraints.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,105 | $28.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $69,071 | $33.21 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,810 | $38.37 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $97,804 | $47.03 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $97,804 | $47.03 |
Median Salary Position
1.61% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sioux Falls
In Sioux Falls, SD, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $38,699 (2026 est.). At $79,810, the local median is 1.61% above the national median of $78,542.
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At 40 hours/week in Sioux Falls: You'd be above the median
How Sioux Falls Police Officer Pay Compares
Sioux Falls median: $79,810/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Sioux Falls Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Average | $72,886 | +9.50% more |
| National Average | $78,542 | +1.61% more |
Police Officers in Sioux Falls, SD earn a median of $79,810 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.61% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 9.50% above the South Dakota state average of $72,886.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Sioux Falls has a cost of living 9.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Sioux Falls, SD has a cost-of-living index of 90.631 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $79,810 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $88,060 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.34% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$61,960
2025 BLS Actual
$77,440
2026 Current Est.
$79,810
2019–2027 Growth
+32.8%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Sioux Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,960 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,460 | Actual |
| 2021 | $64,510 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,770 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,250 | Actual |
| 2024 | $78,350 | Actual |
| 2025 | $77,440 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,810 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $82,252 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Sioux Falls metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 25.0% from $61,960 (2019) to $77,440 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $82,252 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,292 (32.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sioux Falls 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) | $59,105 – $69,071 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $69,071 – $79,810 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,810 – $97,804 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $97,804 – $97,804 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Sioux Falls
The local job market for law enforcement in Sioux Falls consists of about 500 active police officers, making it a modest yet stable field for those entering the profession. With a cost of living index of 90.631, the economic environment allows for a more favorable purchasing power than the national average. Among the various employers within the region, municipal police departments generally provide competitive salaries, but federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI or DEA are known to offer the highest compensation. The wage disparity within the police officer pay in Sioux Falls SD arises from factors such as agency type, overtime opportunities, and special unit assignments. Strategies to maximize earnings here include seeking positions in departments with lucrative overtime structures or working towards specialized roles that offer additional stipends, while educational advancements can also lead to substantial pay increases. Understanding these dynamics can greatly enhance an officer's career trajectory in Sioux Falls.
More salary data for Sioux Falls, SD:
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 $77,440 for police officersin the Sioux Falls 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