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Police Officer Salary in Texas
In May 2024, police and sheriff's patrol officers in Texas earned a median annual wage of $76,350 ($36.71 an hour) and a mean annual wage of $75,970, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey. BLS counted 62,230 police and sheriff's patrol officers working in Texas — about 9.3% of the 666,990 such jobs in the United States. This page breaks down how that pay compares with the national figures for the occupation, where Texas ranks among all states, and how pay is spread from entry-level to top earners inside the state. For wider context, the U.S. all-occupation median wage in the same survey was $23.80 an hour; the Texas page linked below puts this occupation alongside every other job BLS publishes for the state.
How Texas ranks for police officer pay
Among the 51 states and areas where BLS publishes a median for this occupation, Texas ranks #23 for police officer pay. The Texas median of $76,350 is 0.1% higher than the national median of $76,290, and the state mean of $75,970 compares with a national mean of $79,320 (4.2% lower). The highest-paying state, California, posts a median of $115,400, so Texas sits $39,050 behind the top of the market. For a police officer weighing a move, that gap has to be set against Texas's housing and living costs, which this wage survey does not measure.
The pay spread inside Texas
Not every police officer in Texas earns the median. The lowest-paid 10% earned $51,590 or less in May 2024, and the bottom quarter earned $61,080 or less. At the top of the distribution, the highest-paid quarter earned at least $93,070 and the top 10% earned at least $99,450. Experience, employer type, shift and overtime patterns, and metro-versus-rural location all push individual pay toward one end of that range. Statewide, the occupation is also a meaningful part of the Texas job market: by employment it ranks #52 among the occupations BLS publishes for the state — see the full Texas salary page for the state's complete tables.
Police Officer pay in Texas at a glance
| Measure | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $76,350 | $76,290 |
| Mean annual wage | $75,970 | $79,320 |
| Median hourly wage | $36.71 | $36.68 |
| 10th percentile | $51,590 | $47,640 |
| 25th percentile | $61,080 | $58,980 |
| 75th percentile | $93,070 | $97,190 |
| 90th percentile | $99,450 | $115,280 |
| Employment | 62,230 | 666,990 |
For the full state-by-state picture of this occupation, see the Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by state page. For every occupation's pay in this state, see average salary in Texas.
Police Officer in Texas FAQ
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Texas?
The median wage for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Texas was $76,350 a year ($36.71 an hour) in May 2024, and the mean was $75,970, across 62,230 jobs.
Is Texas a good-paying state for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Texas ranks #23 of 51 published states and areas for police officer median pay. Its median of $76,350 is 0.1% higher than the national median of $76,290.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in Texas?
BLS estimated 62,230 police and sheriff's patrol officers jobs in Texas in May 2024 — about 9.3% of the 666,990 such jobs nationwide.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.