Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in Billings, MT
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Billings, MT metro area earn a median of $72,070 a year ($34.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,760 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $76,210. Pay here is 3% higher than the Montana statewide median of $70,050. There are 3.4 police and sheriff's patrol officers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $73,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Billings, MT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,850 | $28.77 |
| 25th percentile | $63,580 | $30.57 |
| Median | $72,070 | $34.65 |
| 75th percentile | $82,760 | $39.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,760 | $39.79 |
| Average (mean) | $73,020 | $35.11 |
Half of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,005.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,002.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,771.92 |
| Weekly | $1,385.96 |
| Hourly | $34.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $72,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Montana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Great Falls, MT | $78,870 | 130 |
| Missoula, MT | $77,610 | 170 |
| Helena, MT | $75,430 | 200 |
| Bozeman, MT | $74,320 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for police and sheriff's patrol officers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
See Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay in every state or the Montana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Billings, MT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $49,110 | $23.61 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $72,880 | $35.04 |
| Security Guard | $38,040 | $18.29 |
| Firefighter | $68,100 | $32.74 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $95,530 | $45.93 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $30,830 | $14.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $84,190 | $40.48 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Billings, MT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Billings, MT?
The median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the Billings, MT metro area is $72,070 a year, or $34.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Billings, MT?
The top 10% of police and sheriff's patrol officers in the Billings, MT metro area earn at least $82,760 a year. The top 25% earn $82,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Billings, MT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,850 a year, and a quarter of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn $63,580 or less.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in Billings, MT?
About 320 police and sheriff's patrol officers are employed in the Billings, MT metro area, not counting the self-employed.