Police Officer Salary in Washington: $111,584 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Washington's 50 metropolitan areas, the average median police officer pay sits at $111,584/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 33-3051. Because Washington sits at BEA RPP 107.4 (7% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $103,896 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Bellevue ($116,248), Seattle ($115,120), Tacoma ($113,200).
In Washington, the average median salary for police officers in 2026 is projected to be $111,584, which is significantly higher than the national median of $78,542, reflecting a 42.1% increase over the national average. The highest paying city is Bellevue at $119,805, while Walla Walla offers the lowest salary at $86,179, resulting in a substantial salary gap of $33,626. This difference can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, regional funding for law enforcement, and varying demand for police services across cities. Washington has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that influence salary levels and job responsibilities. The demand for police officers is driven by an increasing focus on community safety and crime prevention, and the state's job market strength is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3.06%, based on 2025 BLS data. Major cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, Richland, and Kennewick follow Bellevue in salary rankings, with 2026 projections of $118,643, $116,664, $110,016, and $107,770, respectively. This data indicates a stable outlook for law enforcement careers in the state, with potential for growth and competitive salaries.
Washington Police Officer Salary Range
Overall salary range in Washington: $59,045 (lowest entry-level) to $185,698 (highest top earner)
Washington vs National Average
Washington police officers earn 42.07% more than the national median (+$33,042/year difference).
Washington Police Officer Salary Distribution (2026)
Police Officer salaries in Washington range from $88,644 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $132,011 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $111,584. The Washington median is $33,042 above the US national median of $78,542. The average hourly rate is $53.65/hr. Approximately 7,974 police officers are employed across 50 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$84,408
2025 BLS Actual
$108,271
2026 Current Est.
$111,584
2019–2027 Growth
+36.2%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Washington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $84,408 | Actual |
| 2020 | $86,990 | Actual |
| 2021 | $95,764 | Actual |
| 2022 | $97,037 | Actual |
| 2023 | $103,197 | Actual |
| 2024 | $106,917 | Actual |
| 2025 | $108,271 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $111,584 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $114,999 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Washington metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 28.3% from $84,408 (2019) to $108,271 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $114,999 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,591 (36.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Washington 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Washington
Lowest Paying Cities in Washington
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Walla Walla | $86,179 |
| Tukwila | $95,079 |
| Mountlake Terrace | $95,226 |
| Covington | $96,565 |
| Kenmore | $96,572 |
Best Value Cities for Police Officers in Washington
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Washington cities offer the most purchasing power for police officers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | $119,805 | 107.4 | $111,550 |
| Tacoma | $116,664 | 107.4 | $108,626 |
| Kennewick | $107,770 | 100.079 | $107,685 |
| Seattle | $118,643 | 111.133 | $106,758 |
| Yakima | $101,349 | 95.545 | $106,075 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Washington
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $88,644 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $111,584 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $132,011 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Washington metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 50 Cities in Washington
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue | $119,805 |
| 2 | Seattle | $118,643 |
| 3 | Tacoma | $116,664 |
| 4 | Richland | $110,016 |
| 5 | Kennewick | $107,770 |
| 6 | Renton | $105,551 |
| 7 | Bellingham | $104,925 |
| 8 | Bremerton | $104,544 |
| 9 | Everett | $104,529 |
| 10 | Tumwater | $103,806 |
| 11 | Marysville | $103,746 |
| 12 | Mount Vernon | $103,555 |
| 13 | Shoreline | $103,175 |
| 14 | Olympia | $102,864 |
| 15 | Redmond | $102,768 |
| 16 | Kent | $102,684 |
| 17 | Kirkland | $102,516 |
| 18 | Burien | $102,385 |
| 19 | Lacey | $102,021 |
| 20 | Federal Way | $101,936 |
| 21 | Des Moines | $101,914 |
| 22 | Auburn | $101,677 |
| 23 | Lakewood | $101,636 |
| 24 | Issaquah | $101,578 |
| 25 | Yakima | $101,349 |
| 26 | Wenatchee | $101,030 |
| 27 | Sammamish | $100,911 |
| 28 | University Place | $100,876 |
| 29 | Vancouver | $100,819 |
| 30 | SeaTac | $100,796 |
| 31 | Spokane Valley | $100,484 |
| 32 | Pasco | $100,365 |
| 33 | Edmonds | $99,751 |
| 34 | Lake Stevens | $99,487 |
| 35 | Lynnwood | $99,423 |
| 36 | Moses Lake | $99,231 |
| 37 | Bothell | $99,159 |
| 38 | Pullman | $98,720 |
| 39 | Spokane | $98,587 |
| 40 | Puyallup | $98,498 |
| 41 | Ellensburg | $98,128 |
| 42 | Maple Valley | $97,859 |
| 43 | Longview | $97,835 |
| 44 | Camas | $97,611 |
| 45 | Oak Harbor | $97,199 |
| 46 | Kenmore | $96,572 |
| 47 | Covington | $96,565 |
| 48 | Mountlake Terrace | $95,226 |
| 49 | Tukwila | $95,079 |
| 50 | Walla Walla | $86,179 |
More Washington Salary Data
Explore More Police Officer Salary Data
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
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 Washington. State averages are employment-weighted across 50 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