Police Officer Salary

Police Officer Salary in Utah: $81,043 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Utah's 41 metropolitan areas, the average median police officer pay sits at $81,043/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 33-3051. Because Utah sits at BEA RPP 98.1 (2% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $82,613 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Murray ($81,310), Salt Lake City ($80,970), St. George ($80,330).

Police Officer Salary in Utah - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Utah police officer salary overview (2026)
$81,043
Avg Median Salary
$38.96
Avg Hourly Rate
5,064
Metro Employed
41
Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for police officers in Utah is projected to be $81,043, which is 3.2% higher than the national median of $78,542. The salary range among cities varies significantly, with Murray leading at $83,798 and Logan at the lower end with $64,897. This gap of $18,901 is influenced by factors such as local cost of living, departmental funding, and demand for law enforcement in these areas. To work as a police officer in Utah, candidates must meet state licensing requirements and undergo specific training that aligns with the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) guidelines. The scope of practice for Utah police officers includes a range of responsibilities from community policing to handling emergencies, necessitating a broad skill set. The demand for police officers is driven by factors such as population growth, crime trends, and community safety initiatives. With an employment projection indicating a total of 5,064 police officers and a growth rate of 3.06%, the job market for law enforcement in Utah appears positive. Cities like Salt Lake City ($83,448), St. George ($82,788), West Jordan ($81,748), and West Valley City ($81,617) also reflect strong salary figures, contributing to a dynamic landscape for aspiring police officers in the state.

Utah Police Officer Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$62,313
avg across 41 cities
Median
$81,043
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$101,892
avg across 41 cities

Overall salary range in Utah: $47,072 (lowest entry-level) to $129,525 (highest top earner)

Utah vs National Average

Utah
$81,043
National Median
$78,542

Utah police officers earn 3.18% more than the national median (+$2,501/year difference).

Utah Police Officer Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Utah police officer salary percentiles: 10th percentile $62,313, 25th $67,080, Median $81,043, 75th $93,514, 90th $101,892. US national median is $78,542.$28.5K$57.1K$85.6K$114.1K$62.3K10thEntry Level$67.1K25thEarly Career$81.0KMedianMid Career$93.5K75thExperienced$101.9K90thTop EarnerUS Median $78.5K

Police Officer salaries in Utah range from $62,313 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $101,892 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $81,043. The Utah median is $2,501 above the US national median of $78,542. The average hourly rate is $38.96/hr. Approximately 5,064 police officers are employed across 41 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$55,332

2025 BLS Actual

$78,637

2026 Current Est.

$81,043

2019–2027 Growth

+50.9%

Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Utah (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for police officers in Utah. Baseline $55,332 in 2025, projected to $83,523 by 2027.$49.7K$59.6K$69.4K$79.3K$89.2K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$55.3K$58.8K$60.0K$63.3K$70.8K$77.4K$78.6K$81.0K$83.5K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$55,332Actual
2020$58,766Actual
2021$60,017Actual
2022$63,256Actual
2023$70,808Actual
2024$77,369Actual
2025$78,637Actual
2026(current)$81,043Estimated
2027$83,523Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Utah metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 42.1% from $55,332 (2019) to $78,637 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $83,523 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,191 (50.95%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Utah metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Utah

#1
Murray
7 employed · $40.29/hr
$83,798
+3.40% vs avg
#2
Salt Lake City
2,660 employed · $40.12/hr
$83,448
+2.97% vs avg
#3
St. George
300 employed · $39.80/hr
$82,788
+2.15% vs avg
#4
West Jordan
25 employed · $39.31/hr
$81,748
+0.87% vs avg
#5
West Valley City
23 employed · $39.23/hr
$81,617
+0.71% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Utah

CityMedian Salary
Logan$64,897
Clinton$74,400
North Ogden$74,769
Park City$74,981
Payson$75,562

Best Value Cities for Police Officers in Utah

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Utah cities offer the most purchasing power for police officers.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Murray$83,79898.1$85,421
St. George$82,78897.321$85,067
West Jordan$81,74898.1$83,331
West Valley City$81,61798.1$83,198
Sandy$81,45598.1$83,033

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Utah

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$62,313
Mid Career (3-7 years)$81,043
Experienced (7+ years)$101,892

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Utah metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 41 Cities in Utah

#CityMedian Salary
1Murray$83,798
2Salt Lake City$83,448
3St. George$82,788
4West Jordan$81,748
5West Valley City$81,617
6Sandy$81,455
7South Jordan$80,990
8Ogden$80,459
9Draper$80,250
10Layton$79,989
11Holladay$79,678
12Spanish Fork$79,665
13American Fork$79,496
14Saratoga Springs$79,410
15Cedar City$79,384
16Cottonwood Heights$79,116
17Midvale$79,116
18Roy$79,085
19Tooele$79,028
20Herriman$79,002
21Provo$78,624
22Taylorsville$78,421
23Kaysville$78,304
24Syracuse$78,185
25Washington$78,161
26Orem$77,797
27Millcreek$77,721
28Bountiful$77,218
29Lehi$77,061
30Clearfield$76,856
31Pleasant Grove$76,805
32Springville$76,331
33Eagle Mountain$76,300
34Riverton$76,219
35Vineyard$76,094
36Highland$75,719
37Payson$75,562
38Park City$74,981
39North Ogden$74,769
40Clinton$74,400
41Logan$64,897

More Utah Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore police officer hourly pay in Utah cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new police officers.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced police officers.

Explore More Police Officer Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do police officers make in Utah in 2026?

The average median police officer salary in Utah is $81,043/year across 41 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $64,897 in Logan to $83,798 in Murray. This makes Utah one of the higher-paying states, at 3.18% above the national median of $78,542. The state employs approximately 5,064 police officers.

What is the highest paying city for police officers in Utah?

Murray offers the highest police officer salary in Utah at $83,798/year ($40.29/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Murray ($83,798), Salt Lake City ($83,448), St. George ($82,788). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for law enforcement services, and competition among employers for licensed police officers.

How does Utah police officer pay compare to the national average?

Utah's average police officer salary of $81,043 is 3.18% above the national median of $78,542 in 2026. The state employs approximately 5,064 police officers across 41 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level police officer salary in Utah?

Entry-level police officers (10th percentile) in Utah earn approximately $62,313/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $47,072 in lower-paying areas to $64,763 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many police officers are employed in Utah?

Utah employs approximately 5,064 police officers across 41 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Utah one of the larger employers of police officers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the law enforcement field expands and the population ages.

Which Utah city offers the best value for police officers?

When adjusted for cost of living, Murray offers the highest purchasing power for police officers in Utah, with an adjusted salary of $85,421 (nominal: $83,798, CoL index: 98.1). This means your dollar goes 2% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
JL

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

Statewide 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. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 police officer compensation across Utah. State averages are employment-weighted across 41 metro areas — larger metro areas with more police officerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

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

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