US Police Salary 2020: This Is How Much Policemen Earn In Every State

How much does a policeman earn in the U.S.? Apparently, a lot. Here is how much police officers are taking home per state.

Being a police officer in the U.S. certainly has its perks and advantages. One of them is getting a decent salary. According to Forbes, in a report that cited the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as reference, the average salary of a police officer is $67,600. When compared to the average salary of an ordinary worker in the U.S., pegged at $48,516 per year, a policeman takes home a bigger paycheck.

The salary differs in each state due to various regulations being implemented. However, the main responsibilities of a policeman remain the same: arrest offenders, maintain peace, prevent and stop crimes, and respond to call for emergencies and help.

In California, a police officer gets to take home $105,220 while a police officer in Alaska gets $87,870. However, in some states such as Mississippi and Arkansas, a police officer gets to earn $36,290 and $40,570, respectively.

Payscale notes that the members of the New York Police Department (NYPD) have one of the highest salaries in the U.S., with an estimated $78,000 annual pay. But it pales in comparison to the Chicago Police Department’s $85,000 annual pay. The City of Dallas is not far behind with $73,000 yearly salary.

There are many requirements to become a police officer. Some of the obvious ones are being mentally and physically fit, are not charged of any misdemeanor, not convicted of any charges and U.S. citizenship (either born or naturalized). Moreover, one has to be at least 19 years old, at least a high school graduate with some relevant experience and can speak English fluently, per The Balance Careers.

If one needs to enter the police force, here are some of the skills that are in demand and can increase the chances of getting in or receiving a bigger salary: oral and verbal communication and skills in writing procedures, leadership and security policies.

Right now, the police force is facing massive backlash not only in the U.S. but also in other parts of the world. The protests and riots started after a police killed a black man named George Floyd who was wrongfully accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill. Police officer Derek Chauvin pinned Floyd on the ground and knelt on his neck, causing the latter to suffer difficulty in breathing that contributed to his death.

Hashtags such as #blacklivesmatter have trended on social media as protesters began destroying properties and looting stores. Celebrities, musicians and big companies such as Nike, Reebok and adidas have posted their support to the protest as a means to end police brutality and racism and white supremacy in the U.S.