Police Officer Salary in Virginia Beach, VA: $61,517 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Virginia Beach, VA earns a median $61,517/year (≈ $29.58/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Virginia Beach's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.9), that paycheck buys what $62,810 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.2% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Virginia Beach, police officers earn a median annual salary of $61,517, which reflects the long-term impact of retirement benefits tied to a pension multiplier formula. This salary range varies, with starting pay at around $53,643 and experienced officers earning up to $96,907. These figures are based on official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys and illustrate how local compensation aligns with retirement planning for police personnel. While the median salary is below the national average of $78,542, Virginia Beach’s competitive pay structure serves to attract quality candidates to its police force amid a growing demand in the region.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $53,643 | $25.79 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,290 | $28.51 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,517 | $29.58 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $78,284 | $37.64 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $96,907 | $46.59 |
Median Salary Position
21.68% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Virginia Beach
In Virginia Beach, VA, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $43,264 (2026 est.). At $61,517, the local median is 21.68% below the national median of $78,542.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Virginia Beach: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Virginia Beach Police Officer Pay Compares
Virginia Beach median: $61,517/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Virginia Beach Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $60,787 | +1.20% more |
| National Average | $78,542 | -21.68% less |
Police Officers in Virginia Beach, VA earn a median of $61,517 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.68% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 1.20% above the Virginia state average of $60,787.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Virginia Beach has a cost of living 2.06% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Virginia Beach, VA has a cost-of-living index of 97.941 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $61,517 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $62,810 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.1% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$52,770
2025 BLS Actual
$59,690
2026 Current Est.
$61,517
2019–2027 Growth
+20.1%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Virginia Beach (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,770 | Actual |
| 2020 | $54,650 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,490 | Actual |
| 2022 | $54,910 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,310 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,030 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,690 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,517 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,399 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Virginia Beach metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 13.1% from $52,770 (2019) to $59,690 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,399 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,629 (20.14%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Virginia Beach 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) | $53,643 – $59,290 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,290 – $61,517 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,517 – $78,284 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $78,284 – $96,907 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Virginia Beach
Local employment figures indicate that there are approximately 4,320 police officers actively working in Virginia Beach, underscoring the strength of the job market in this area. The cost of living index reveals a rating of 97.941, suggesting that the purchasing power for officers is relatively stable despite the overall lower salary compared to the national average. Among employers, municipal police departments typically offer more competitive salaries than county sheriff’s offices, while federal law enforcement agencies provide the highest compensation. Wage disparities can largely be attributed to factors such as the type of agency, union agreements, overtime policies, and specialized unit assignments. Officers seeking to maximize their earnings may benefit from pursuing advanced educational opportunities, which often come with pay incentives, as well as considering shifts and units that provide bonuses. Knowing the intricacies of these elements can significantly enhance an officer’s overall compensation in Virginia Beach, VA.
More salary data for Virginia Beach, VA:
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 $59,690 for police officersin the Virginia Beach 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