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

Police Officer Salary in Iowa

Median Annual in Iowa
$74,470/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$35.81/hr
▼ 2% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Iowa

groups Employed in IA
5,130
public U.S. Median
$76,210
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$84,854 #11 of 51

Police Officer pay in Iowa, explained

Police officers in Iowa earn a median of $74,470 per year ($35.81 per hour), which is 2% below the national median of $76,210. Entry-level workers earn around $59,360, while the most experienced police officers reach about $101,520. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Iowa.

Is $74,470 good pay in Iowa?

Adjusted for Iowa's cost of living (which runs 88% of the U.S. average), that $74,470 is worth about $84,854 in national buying power — ranking Iowa #11 for real pay (vs #27 on the sticker number).

See the full Police Officer Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Police Officer pay by experience in Iowa

Entry level (10th pct)
$59,360
$28.54/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$74,470
$35.81/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$101,520
$48.81/hr

Police Officer pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IA
Iowa (here) $74,470 $84,854 —
Illinois $100,520 $100,562 −$26,050
Minnesota $83,360 $84,526 −$8,890
Wisconsin $78,090 $82,991 −$3,620
Nebraska $74,620 $82,816 −$150
South Dakota $60,740 $68,566 +$13,730
Missouri $59,460 $65,472 +$15,010

Police Officer in Iowa: FAQ

How much do police officers make in Iowa?

Police officers in Iowa earn a median of $74,470 per year ($35.81 per hour), compared with $76,210 nationally.

Does Iowa pay police officers well?

At $74,470, Iowa pays 2% below the national median for police officers. An estimated 5,130 work in the state.

Police Officer salary in other states

California · $118,880 Washington · $102,080 Illinois · $100,520 Alaska · $99,130 Colorado · $97,350 Delaware · $92,970 New York · $92,790 New Jersey · $92,610 District of Columbia · $88,650 Oregon · $88,140 Pennsylvania · $85,470 Hawaii · $83,820

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Iowa

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