Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Police Officer's pay go, state by state?
A Police Officer's pay leaves the most room in California — about $7,375/mo take-home against $1,969/mo typical rent — and the least in Mississippi.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $7,375/mo | $1,969/mo | 27% |
| Illinois | $6,398/mo | $1,246/mo | 19% |
| Washington | $6,468/mo | $1,641/mo | 25% |
| Alaska | $5,854/mo | $1,361/mo | 23% |
| Pennsylvania | $5,550/mo | $1,176/mo | 21% |
| New Jersey | $5,970/mo | $1,656/mo | 28% |
| Minnesota | $5,465/mo | $1,230/mo | 23% |
| Colorado | $5,746/mo | $1,659/mo | 29% |
| Connecticut | $5,547/mo | $1,483/mo | 27% |
| Delaware | $5,357/mo | $1,321/mo | 25% |
| Oregon | $5,418/mo | $1,431/mo | 26% |
| Wisconsin | $5,008/mo | $1,033/mo | 21% |
| New York | $5,555/mo | $1,621/mo | 29% |
| Ohio | $4,830/mo | $986/mo | 20% |
| Hawaii | $5,735/mo | $1,927/mo | 34% |
| Nevada | $5,247/mo | $1,478/mo | 28% |
| Rhode Island | $4,944/mo | $1,289/mo | 26% |
| Iowa | $4,503/mo | $932/mo | 21% |
| Arizona | $4,969/mo | $1,419/mo | 29% |
| Texas | $4,811/mo | $1,328/mo | 28% |
| North Dakota | $4,359/mo | $911/mo | 21% |
| Michigan | $4,501/mo | $1,072/mo | 24% |
| District of Columbia | $5,203/mo | $1,900/mo | 37% |
| Indiana | $4,311/mo | $1,022/mo | 24% |
| Nebraska | $4,290/mo | $1,017/mo | 24% |
| Maryland | $4,905/mo | $1,683/mo | 34% |
| Massachusetts | $4,921/mo | $1,716/mo | 35% |
| Wyoming | $4,167/mo | $979/mo | 23% |
| Montana | $4,148/mo | $1,031/mo | 25% |
| Vermont | $4,274/mo | $1,207/mo | 28% |
| New Mexico | $4,085/mo | $1,034/mo | 25% |
| Utah | $4,390/mo | $1,396/mo | 32% |
| Maine | $4,048/mo | $1,104/mo | 27% |
| Idaho | $4,102/mo | $1,163/mo | 28% |
| Florida | $4,436/mo | $1,542/mo | 35% |
| New Hampshire | $4,144/mo | $1,424/mo | 34% |
| South Dakota | $3,600/mo | $910/mo | 25% |
| Missouri | $3,671/mo | $997/mo | 27% |
| Oklahoma | $3,500/mo | $970/mo | 28% |
| Virginia | $4,029/mo | $1,547/mo | 38% |
| West Virginia | $3,286/mo | $848/mo | 26% |
| Kansas | $3,456/mo | $1,025/mo | 30% |
| Kentucky | $3,281/mo | $918/mo | 28% |
| Alabama | $3,317/mo | $967/mo | 29% |
| Tennessee | $3,380/mo | $1,111/mo | 33% |
| North Carolina | $3,405/mo | $1,147/mo | 34% |
| Georgia | $3,492/mo | $1,320/mo | 38% |
| South Carolina | $3,275/mo | $1,131/mo | 35% |
| Louisiana | $3,107/mo | $1,028/mo | 33% |
| Arkansas | $2,880/mo | $903/mo | 31% |
| Mississippi | $2,670/mo | $933/mo | 35% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.