Police Officer Salary in Brownsville, TX: $58,559 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Brownsville, TX earns a median $58,559/year (≈ $28.16/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Brownsville's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.0), that paycheck buys what $68,112 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 23.8% below the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, police officer salaries in Brownsville, Texas, present an intriguing contrast to national figures, with a projected median annual compensation of $58,559. The salary range spans from $38,998 at the 10th percentile to $87,333 at the 90th percentile, as reported by official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys. While these earnings may appear modest when compared to the national median of $78,542, they reflect the unique economic and structural factors inherent to law enforcement in this area. In Brownsville, officers primarily serve municipal departments, which often have distinct compensation packages compared to state and federal entities, influencing the overall pay dynamics in law enforcement careers.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $38,998 | $18.75 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,696 | $22.93 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $58,559 | $28.16 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $77,553 | $37.29 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $87,333 | $41.99 |
Median Salary Position
25.44% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Brownsville
In Brownsville, TX, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $48,335 (2026 est.). At $58,559, the local median is 25.44% below the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Brownsville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Brownsville Police Officer Pay Compares
Brownsville median: $58,559/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Brownsville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $76,849 | -23.80% less |
| National Average | $78,542 | -25.44% less |
Police Officers in Brownsville, TX earn a median of $58,559 per year (2026 est.), which is 25.44% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 23.80% below the Texas state average of $76,849.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Brownsville has a cost of living 14.03% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Brownsville, TX has a cost-of-living index of 85.975 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $58,559 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $68,112 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.31% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$46,510
2025 BLS Actual
$56,820
2026 Current Est.
$58,559
2019–2027 Growth
+29.8%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Brownsville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46,510 | Actual |
| 2020 | $48,940 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,040 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,190 | Actual |
| 2023 | $64,710 | Actual |
| 2024 | $57,490 | Actual |
| 2025 | $56,820 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $58,559 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $60,351 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Brownsville metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 22.2% from $46,510 (2019) to $56,820 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $60,351 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,841 (29.76%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Brownsville 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) | $38,998 – $47,696 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,696 – $58,559 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $58,559 – $77,553 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $77,553 – $87,333 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Brownsville
The local job market reveals a total of 820 police officers employed in Brownsville, signaling a steady demand for law enforcement personnel. With a cost of living index of 85.975, salaries may translate into varying purchasing power, particularly in comparison to larger metropolitan areas. The highest-paying opportunities often lie within municipal police departments, but other agency types like federal law enforcement can offer substantially higher pay, especially for specialized roles and overtime. Factors contributing to pay disparities include agency type, overtime agreements, and specialized unit assignments, which allow officers to earn additional stipends. Veterans in the field should focus on enhancing their qualifications through advanced training and education incentives while considering potential overtime opportunities to maximize their earnings in this specific market.
More salary data for Brownsville, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do police officers make in Brownsville, TX in 2026?
Is Brownsville, TX a good place to work as a police officer?
Can police officers make $100K in Brownsville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted police officer salary in Brownsville?
How much does a police officer make per hour in Brownsville?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Texas
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 $56,820 for police officersin the Brownsville 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