Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $51,070 a year ($24.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 400 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,690 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $76,210. Pay here is 7% higher than the Arkansas statewide median of $47,670. There are 4.2 police and sheriff's patrol officers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $50,300, close to the median.
Pay range for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,760 | $17.68 |
| 25th percentile | $42,370 | $20.37 |
| Median | $51,070 | $24.55 |
| 75th percentile | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,690 | $30.14 |
| Average (mean) | $50,300 | $24.18 |
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 | $4,255.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,127.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,964.23 |
| Weekly | $982.12 |
| Hourly | $24.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $75,410 | 3,630 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $75,270 | 2,970 |
| Tulsa, OK | $64,190 | 2,310 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $57,180 | 400 |
| Enid, OK | $56,510 | 140 |
| Lawton, OK | $54,870 | 280 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $54,840 | 1,520 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $53,420 | 870 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $49,570 | 230 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $44,850 | 140 |
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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| Security Guard | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| Firefighter | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $71,730 | $34.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| School Bus Monitor | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $39,610 | $19.05 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $46,380 | $22.30 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $51,070 a year, or $24.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of police and sheriff's patrol officers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $62,690 a year. The top 25% earn $60,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,760 a year, and a quarter of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn $42,370 or less.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 400 police and sheriff's patrol officers are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.