Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in Virginia
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Virginia earn a median of $65,870 a year ($31.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,970 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,820 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $76,210. Virginia ranks 37th of 51 states for police and sheriff's patrol officers pay. There are 4.9 police and sheriff's patrol officers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $70,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,000 | $24.04 |
| 25th percentile | $58,140 | $27.95 |
| Median | $65,870 | $31.67 |
| 75th percentile | $78,480 | $37.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,820 | $46.55 |
| Average (mean) | $70,450 | $33.87 |
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 | $5,489.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,744.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,533.46 |
| Weekly | $1,266.73 |
| Hourly | $31.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $65,870 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $84,000 | 14,630 |
| Richmond, VA | $62,720 | 3,410 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $60,880 | 410 |
| Roanoke, VA | $59,900 | 840 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $59,690 | 4,320 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $58,960 | 220 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $58,260 | 230 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $58,150 | 430 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $56,640 | 190 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $56,250 | 470 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $48,620 | 690 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,140 | $24.11 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $112,760 | $54.21 |
| Bailiff | $62,290 | $29.95 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $66,540 | $31.99 |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $46,840 | $22.52 |
| Security Guard | $43,640 | $20.98 |
| Firefighter | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $101,230 | $48.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $97,780 | $47.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $64,190 | $30.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $60,790 | $29.23 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $37,560 | $18.06 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Virginia is $65,870 a year, or $31.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of police and sheriff's patrol officers in Virginia earn at least $96,820 a year. The top 25% earn $78,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,000 a year, and a quarter of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn $58,140 or less.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in Virginia?
About 19,970 police and sheriff's patrol officers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.