Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in Texas
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Texas earn a median of $75,900 a year ($36.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 63,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,350 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $76,210. Texas ranks 23rd of 51 states for police and sheriff's patrol officers pay. There are 4.5 police and sheriff's patrol officers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $76,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,240 | $24.64 |
| 25th percentile | $61,240 | $29.44 |
| Median | $75,900 | $36.49 |
| 75th percentile | $93,800 | $45.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,350 | $47.29 |
| Average (mean) | $76,160 | $36.62 |
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 | $6,325 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,162.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,919.23 |
| Weekly | $1,459.62 |
| Hourly | $36.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $75,900 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $92,910 | 16,430 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $82,290 | 4,540 |
| Laredo, TX | $81,690 | 780 |
| Midland, TX | $80,260 | 340 |
| Amarillo, TX | $78,900 | 610 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $78,450 | 830 |
| Lubbock, TX | $77,110 | 790 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $76,570 | 490 |
| El Paso, TX | $76,400 | 1,700 |
| Abilene, TX | $76,070 | 400 |
| Waco, TX | $75,850 | 690 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $74,680 | 270 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $74,570 | 16,250 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $73,860 | 5,130 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $73,400 | 980 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $73,110 | 370 |
| Tyler, TX | $72,400 | 490 |
| Longview, TX | $70,800 | 590 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $70,240 | 840 |
| San Angelo, TX | $61,610 | 300 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $61,050 | 230 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $58,360 | 1,820 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $57,180 | 400 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $56,820 | 820 |
| Victoria, TX | $55,820 | 250 |
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.
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $52,670 | $25.32 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $90,510 | $43.51 |
| Bailiff | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $85,980 | $41.34 |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $38,720 | $18.61 |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $78,480 | $37.73 |
| Security Guard | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Firefighter | $60,180 | $28.94 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $81,710 | $39.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $46,740 | $22.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $111,000 | $53.36 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $33,500 | $16.11 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $68,640 | $33.00 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Texas is $75,900 a year, or $36.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Texas?
The top 10% of police and sheriff's patrol officers in Texas earn at least $98,350 a year. The top 25% earn $93,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,240 a year, and a quarter of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn $61,240 or less.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in Texas?
About 63,100 police and sheriff's patrol officers are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.