Best Paying Departments

[TOACD]

I was looking for some input on the better paying departments in the country, and approximately what they pay.

[winq]

This migh help.

http://www.theblueline.com/salary1.html

[ask80]

the best paying depts are in the highest cost of living areas. nor cal and so cal

[Bing_Oh]

Always factor in cost of living when considering pay. Departments in California, for example, appear to make absolutely amazing money. However, a house that costs $130,000 in suburban Ohio could go for well in excess of $500,000 in California.

[just joe]

What others have said, you must factor in the cost of living, which not only includes property values, but property tax, sales tax, insurance rates, etc.

[SgtCHP]

Dang!!! When I started out in LE I was paid $344.00 a month and had to furnish my own uniformas, weapons, safety equipment, etc. And, I was in heaven to have a job with a new wife and a baby on the way!

When I retired twenty-nine years later, I was making $4462.00 a month. Uniforms were paid for, weapons and safety equipment were furnished.

Bonus pay for education, shooting, longevity came along right after I retired. Quite an increase in the fifteen years since I retired.

If I were working today I would be compensated at about $9800.00 +/- a month. Not bad for the lowly Sergeant.

[Magicman]

Cost of living is a big factor. When I started applying to various depts, my wife and I researched each town. She had a spread sheet that compared everything, taxes, electric, gas, housing, you name it. She even had realtors send her the grocery ads and compared that. We ended up here in OH. Like Bing-OH said, salaries can look very attractive but you have to weigh in the cost of your home. We live in a great neighborhood, nice big home that cost us 120K. My salary is very good. Lots of court and overtime.

[GoldBadge]

In Suffolk County, NY, they pay a 5 year officer a base pay of $97K.

[FortDrumPolice]

In Suffolk County, NY, they pay a 5 year officer a base pay of $97K.

I have heard of that but, I also hear that it is very hard to get picked up by that department ie look at the pay. I guy who was stationed with me up at Fort Drum went to take the test and he said he had to drop $100.00 just do so.

[e-man]

I have heard of that but, I also hear that it is very hard to get picked up by that department ie look at the pay. I guy who was stationed with me up at Fort Drum went to take the test and he said he had to drop $100.00 just do so.

Very very hard. Its almost based on what you are, not what type of background or experience.
I had about 9 yrs full time experience when I took the test and scored only an 83.
I have not scored below a 93 on any written police test.
Nassau also pay over $85,000 a year. Cheap house in that area cost between $350,000 and 400,000.
Taxes run anywhere from 7K to maybe 15K a year.
Beautiful area but sickening expensive.

[GoldBadge]

Cheap house in that area cost between $350,000 and 400,000.

E-man, I live in Nassau Co. and the only house you an find in that price range is in serious need of repair or it's small and in slummy area.

Yes the police pay in Nassau and Suffolk is good, but you need that kind of money to survive around here.

[VegasMetro]

Don't forget to look at the benefits as well..If you willing to relocate, LVMPD is a good paying agency and the benefits/retirement are great. The state pays for your retirement. The cost of living has increased over the past 5 years, but it is still not bad.

[CODE-30]

Our highest here in Mich is I think Sterling Heights PD. They recently got a pay increase topping out at almost $75k a year.

[Arctic Cop]

AK State Troopers; 9 year troop $180k off the road system.

[MrHighspeeder]

Also think about retiring. Retire from CHP or NYSP will make you more prosperous than most southern Dept.

Here are the state agencies. These numbers are acurate based on the information I've researched.
Agency-Starting, Max; anything noteworthy

Texas DPS-35,784, 61,788
Utah HP-35,392, 52,977
Vermont SP-41,990, 74,075
Washington SP-38,256, 62,484
West Virginia SP-33,984, 41,256 after academy, Max over 50k
Wisconsin SP-41,657, 60,169
Wyoming HP-42,672, 52,457
North Dakota SP-48,000, 63,000; 200 food
Ohio HP-44,481, 66,536
Oregon SP-48,000, 66,000
Pennsylvania SP-58,211, 84,000-97,000; +Longevity
Rhode Island SP-31,000, 58,000; 750 clothing
South Carolina HP- 29,910, 39,579
South Dakota DPS-35,000, 44,000
Tennessee HP-35,000, 52,000
Missouri SHP-36,408, 55,000
Montana HP-34,000, 50,000
Nebraska SP-25,000, 52,902
Nevada HP-46,416, 69,029
New Hampshire SP-46,000, 72,000; +Shift Differential
New Jersey SP-28,000, 108,847
New Mexico SP-37,128, 52,743
New York SP- 50,374, 84,739; +COL, Longevity
North Carolina HP- 34,000, 56,330
Kentucky SP- 34,441, 70,000?; +3100 stipend, 5 per day uniforms
Louisiana SP- 35,604, 54,688; +uniform $, 30yrs retire at 99.9%
Maine SP- 36,753, 49,420; +50 month for cell, 65 month uniforms, shift diff, 260 per year vehicle
Maryland SP- 40,000, 65,812; +uniforms, shift diff
Massachusetts SP-20,179, 59,238; apparently weird OT
Michigan SP-36,000, 62,000; +uniforms
Minnesota SP- 37,000, 60,000
Mississippi SP- 14,000, 37,000
Delaware SP- 44,000, 101,000?; 2000 shift pay
DC Metro- 48,715, 71,971; longevity
Florida HP-33,977, 42,000
Georgia SP-32,418, 37,519
Idaho SP- 35,000, 46,000; +shift diff
Illinois SP- 39,000, 104,724
Indiana SP- 36,852, 65,000
Iowa SP-36,000, 69,500
Kansas HP-36,171, 53,000
Oklahoma HP-33,192, 57,000; +150 uniforms, shift diff
Alabama HP- 35,589, 59,517
Alaska ST-44,000, 91,878; + COL and shift diff
Arizona HP-44,724, 62,660
Arkansas SP-24,000, 50,000; +4000
California HP-51,288, 84,036; +shift diff, 130 month PT, longevity
Colorado SP-43176, 71040; +100 uniforms month
Connecticut SP- 36,223, 70,000?; +meals 18.88 day, sift diff