verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Police Officer Salary in District of Columbia

Median Annual in District of Columbia
$88,650/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$42.62/hr
▲ 16% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in District of Columbia

groups Employed in DC
4,720
public U.S. Median
$76,210
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$80,664 #17 of 51

Police Officer pay in District of Columbia, explained

Police officers in District of Columbia earn a median of $88,650 per year ($42.62 per hour), which is 16% above the national median of $76,210. Entry-level workers earn around $66,420, while the most experienced police officers reach about $119,660. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within District of Columbia.

Is $88,650 good pay in District of Columbia?

Adjusted for District of Columbia's cost of living (which runs 110% of the U.S. average), that $88,650 is worth about $80,664 in national buying power — ranking District of Columbia #17 for real pay (vs #9 on the sticker number).

See the full Police Officer Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Police Officer pay by experience in District of Columbia

Entry level (10th pct)
$66,420
$31.93/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$88,650
$42.62/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$119,660
$57.53/hr

Police Officer pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs DC
District of Columbia (here) $88,650 $80,664
Maryland $77,970 $74,286 +$10,680
Virginia $65,870 $65,151 +$22,780

Police Officer in District of Columbia: FAQ

How much do police officers make in District of Columbia?

Police officers in District of Columbia earn a median of $88,650 per year ($42.62 per hour), compared with $76,210 nationally.

Does District of Columbia pay police officers well?

At $88,650, District of Columbia pays 16% above the national median for police officers. An estimated 4,720 work in the state.

Police Officer salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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