Top Paying Metros

Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers are the third most in-demand profession in the Homeland Security sector. There is projected need for 265,000 officers by the end of 2014; but that is not to say that some states have a higher need than others. The following is a guide to help you navigate, state by state, the law enforcement employment gauntlet.

Top 10 Best Paying Police Jobs By State
(These stats are based off of mean salaries ending in the year 2006)

State Wage

1. New Jersey $33.88
2. California $33.12
3. Illinois $28.81
4. Washington $28.48
5. Nevada $27.74
6. Alaska $26.98
7. Connecticut $26.72
8. Pennsylvania $25.76
9. Colorado $25.57
10. Oregon $24.76

States not reporting: New York and District of Columbia

Top 10 Worst Paying Police Jobs by State
(These stats are based off of mean salaries ending in the year 2006)

State Wage

1. Mississippi $13.59
2. Arkansas $13.67
3. Louisiana $13.75
4. Oklahoma $13.88
5. Tennessee $15.26
6. Missouri $15.39
7. West Virginia $15.44
8. Vermont $15.64
9. Alabama $15.80
10. South Dakota $16.07

States not reporting: New York and District of Colombia

Top 10 States By Highest Expected Police Job Growth (between 2006 – 2016)
(These stats are based off of job growth expectations ending in the year 2006)

State # of New Jobs

1. California 12,700
2. Florida 7,450
3. Georgia 3,530
4. Arizona 2,840
5. New York 2,820
6. North Carolina 2,720
7. Colorado 2,280
8. Tennessee 2,280
9. Ohio 2,240
10. Missouri 2,070

States not reporting: Kansas, Texas, Virginia, District of Colombia

Top 10 States By Lowest Expected Police Job Growth (between 2006 – 2016)
(These stats are based off of job growth expectations ending in the year 2006)

State # of New Jobs

1. North Dakota 80
2. Rhode Island 120
3. South Dakota 120
4. Alaska 160
5. Wyoming 160
6. Hawaii 220
7. West Virginia 220
8. Vermont 230
9. Maine 320
10. Delaware 340

States not reporting: Kansas, Texas, Virginia, District of Colombia

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections; the Labor Market Information Office within the State Employment Security Agency

Note: The data for the State Trends and the National Trends tables are not directly comparable. The employment projections period for State Trends is 2004-2014, while the period for National Trends is 2006-2016.
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