Police Officer Salary in Houston, TX: $76,852 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Houston, TX earns a median $76,852/year (≈ $36.95/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Houston's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.6), that paycheck buys what $77,920 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Houston, Texas, police officers can expect a median annual salary of $76,852, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026. This figure places Houston's police officer pay slightly below the national median of $78,542, reflecting a 2.15% gap. Officers in Houston earn between $60,919 and $96,670, indicating a broad salary range that reflects various factors, including agency type and individual experience. Federal agencies such as the FBI and DEA typically offer higher wages compared to municipal and state positions, influencing the overall compensation structure for law enforcement across the region. As Houston's job market continues to evolve, the city's competitive salary range remains an important consideration for aspiring officers.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,919 | $29.29 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $63,114 | $30.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $76,852 | $36.95 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $85,004 | $40.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $96,670 | $46.47 |
Median Salary Position
2.15% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houston
In Houston, TX, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $35,751 (2026 est.). At $76,852, the local median is 2.15% below the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Houston Police Officer Pay Compares
Houston median: $76,852/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $78,542 | -2.15% less |
Police Officers in Houston, TX earn a median of $76,852 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.15% lower than the national median of $78,542.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houston has a cost of living 1.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 98.629 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $76,852 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $77,920 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.39% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$64,620
2025 BLS Actual
$74,570
2026 Current Est.
$76,852
2019–2027 Growth
+22.6%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Houston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,620 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,420 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,970 | Actual |
| 2022 | $64,700 | Actual |
| 2023 | $69,080 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,450 | Actual |
| 2025 | $74,570 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $76,852 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $79,204 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houston metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 15.4% from $64,620 (2019) to $74,570 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $79,204 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,584 (22.57%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston 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) | $60,919 – $63,114 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $63,114 – $76,852 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $76,852 – $85,004 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $85,004 – $96,670 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Houston
With approximately 16,250 police officers employed in the Houston area, the local job market is robust, catering to diverse law enforcement roles. The cost of living index stands at 98.629, which is below the national average and suggests that officers in Houston have comparatively better purchasing power than those in more expensive regions. Among the highest-paying employers are federal law enforcement agencies, with municipal departments following closely behind; however, salaries may vary greatly depending on specialized units, shift differentials, and educational incentives. Factors such as union negotiations and retirement benefits are critical in shaping pay discrepancies seen across different agencies. To maximize earning potential in Houston, officers should actively seek opportunities for specialized training and overtime, considering pathways like promotion into specialized units that offer additional stipends.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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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 $74,570 for police officersin the Houston 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