Police Officer Salary in Laredo, TX: $84,190 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Laredo, TX earns a median $84,190/year (≈ $40.47/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Laredo's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 87.0), that paycheck buys what $96,819 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.5% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source

For police officers in Laredo, TX, the 2026 estimated median annual salary stands at $84,190, which offers a competitive edge over the national median of $78,542, reflecting a 7.19% premium. The salary range showcases diversity in compensation, spanning from $45,192 at the 10th percentile to $94,939 at the 90th percentile, indicating the potential for significant earnings growth with experience, expertise, and overtime opportunities. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, these figures highlight the effective pay landscape, particularly where overtime from mandatory details and court appearances can substantially boost an officer’s overall compensation. As such, Laredo’s police officer salary structure illustrates a commitment to not just competitive base pay but the incorporation of additional financial incentives that can enhance overall job satisfaction and retention.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $45,192 | $21.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $65,773 | $31.63 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $84,190 | $40.47 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $94,939 | $45.65 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $94,939 | $45.65 |
Median Salary Position
7.19% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Laredo
In Laredo, TX, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $49,747 (2026 est.). At $84,190, the local median is 7.19% above the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Laredo: You'd be in the upper quartile
How Laredo Police Officer Pay Compares
Laredo median: $84,190/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Laredo Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $76,886 | +9.50% more |
| National Average | $78,542 | +7.19% more |
Police Officers in Laredo, TX earn a median of $84,190 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.19% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 9.50% above the Texas state average of $76,886.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Laredo has a cost of living 13.04% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Laredo, TX has a cost-of-living index of 86.956 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $84,190 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $96,819 in an average-cost city — an effective 15% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$61,410
2025 BLS Actual
$81,690
2026 Current Est.
$84,190
2019–2027 Growth
+41.3%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Laredo (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,410 | Actual |
| 2020 | $65,380 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,820 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,600 | Actual |
| 2023 | $81,910 | Actual |
| 2024 | $80,790 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,690 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,190 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,766 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Laredo metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 33.0% from $61,410 (2019) to $81,690 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,766 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,356 (41.29%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Laredo 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) | $45,192 – $65,773 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $65,773 – $84,190 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $84,190 – $94,939 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $94,939 – $94,939 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Laredo
With about 780 police officers currently employed in Laredo, the job market shows a solid demand for law enforcement professionals. The cost of living index sits at 86.956, reflecting a more affordable environment compared to national standards, which positively impacts take-home pay and purchasing power for Laredo’s officers. Among local employers, municipal police departments generally lead in compensation, but county sheriff’s offices and federal law enforcement agencies offer competitive salaries, especially with their structured overtime systems. Factors influencing salary variations include agency type—federal agencies typically pay higher than their municipal counterparts—as well as union contracts that favor overtime negotiation, shift differentials, and education incentive structures. To maximize earnings in Laredo, officers should consider gaining specialized certifications, seeking assignments in high-demand units, and actively engaging in overtime opportunities, all of which can significantly elevate their earning potential in the long run.
More salary data for Laredo, TX:
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 $81,690 for police officersin the Laredo 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