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Police officers are the keepers of the city, they are respected for maintaining peace, protecting the innocent and keeping our neighborhoods safe. Aside of the satisfaction of knowing you’re making a difference, a police officer brings home a fairly decent salary.
A police officer’s salary will depend on several different factors, including the area they work, (officers in more dangerous cities earn more money), the length of time served, (an increase in salary usually comes with tenure) their rank advancement, (a lieutenant earns more than an officer), and the level of danger involved in their job description (drug trafficking may earn more than directing traffic).
Police Officer Salary and Education
Education will always play a significant role in determining a professional salary and the police field is no different. As in the commercial world, college graduates will always earn more than the high school diploma holders.
Some police salaries in highly populated areas with high crime rates can reach the six-figure mark, but most entry police officer salaries are between $34,000/year and $60,000/year. In May of 2008, police officers had average yearly wages of $52,810.
In addition to their salary, most states provide extensive medical and dental coverage, excellent retirement plans, paid vacation, holiday bonus pay, bilingual bonus, along with many other perks.
Experienced police officers also have better chances of getting hired by the FBI or being offered lucrative private security jobs.
Once you have joined the force, regardless of your starting salary, you have the chance to work your way up through specific guidelines to obtain your goals, promotions and raises. Ambition plays a large role in determining a police officer salary and benefits.
A beginner who climbs to the next level of police sergeant may earn a minimum of $68,000 per year. If their ambition continues to a police lieutenant the pay scale rises to $79,000 per year, then up to a captain could earn $92,000 per year and the executive police chief may earn up to $152,000 per year.
Police Officer Benefits
Police officers are also rewarded with job security. Even turn economic downturns, police officers law enforcement is one of the few career fields that generally remains unaffected. When unemployment skyrockets, the police force keeps every member of its team. The security of knowing that your job is relatively secure which will allow you to provide for your family, regardless of the economic roller coaster, definitely makes it worth it to learn how to become a police officer.
