Police Officer Salary in Appleton, WI: $79,995 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time police officer in Appleton, WI earns a median $79,995/year (≈ $38.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Once you factor in Appleton's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.4), that paycheck buys what $86,557 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% below the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Appleton, Wisconsin, projected police officer salaries for 2026 indicate a median annual compensation of $79,995. This figure slightly surpasses the national median of $78,542, showcasing a stronger local pay scale within the context of varying law enforcement agencies. The salary range for police officers in Appleton spans from $61,527 at the 10th percentile to $94,351 at the 90th percentile, as extracted from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys. Such numbers hint at a competitive local job market that is often influenced by the employment opportunities available across different policing jurisdictions, including municipal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61,527 | $29.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $73,925 | $35.55 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,995 | $38.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81,407 | $39.14 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $94,351 | $45.37 |
Median Salary Position
1.85% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Appleton
In Appleton, WI, the police officer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $32,824 (2026 est.). At $79,995, the local median is 1.85% above the national median of $78,542.
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At 40 hours/week in Appleton: You'd be above the median
How Appleton Police Officer Pay Compares
Appleton median: $79,995/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Appleton Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $80,559 | -0.70% less |
| National Average | $78,542 | +1.85% more |
Police Officers in Appleton, WI earn a median of $79,995 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.85% higher than the national median of $78,542 and 0.70% below the Wisconsin state average of $80,559.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Appleton has a cost of living 7.58% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Appleton, WI has a cost-of-living index of 92.419 (below the national average of 100). A police officer earning $79,995 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $86,557 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.2% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,890
2025 BLS Actual
$77,620
2026 Current Est.
$79,995
2019–2027 Growth
+31.1%
Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in Appleton (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,890 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,030 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,810 | Actual |
| 2022 | $70,530 | Actual |
| 2023 | $76,920 | Actual |
| 2024 | $79,100 | Actual |
| 2025 | $77,620 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,995 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $82,443 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Appleton metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 23.4% from $62,890 (2019) to $77,620 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $82,443 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,553 (31.09%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Appleton 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) | $61,527 – $73,925 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $73,925 – $79,995 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,995 – $81,407 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $81,407 – $94,351 |
PO salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual police officer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Police Officer Job Market in Appleton
The local job market for police officers in Appleton consists of approximately 340 individuals currently employed in this capacity. However, the cost of living index in Appleton stands at 92.419, which indicates a more affordable living situation compared to the national average. Consequently, this impacts the practical purchasing power of officers’ salaries, allowing their pay to stretch further in the local economy. Among various employers, federal law enforcement agencies tend to offer the highest salaries followed by urban municipal departments. To optimize earnings within Appleton's specifics, officers might benefit from pursuing shift differentials, specialized unit assignments, and engaging in educational programs that qualify for pay increases. Strong labor representation through unions like FOP or NLEA can also help leverage better compensation and benefits, vital elements in making the most of a police officer's career in Appleton, WI.
More salary data for Appleton, WI:
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 $77,620 for police officersin the Appleton 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