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City Police vs State Trooper Pay

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Chart graphic comparing city police and state trooper pay.

City police officers start at a median $75,433 across 55 local departments, compared with $70,222 for state troopers across 42 agencies. The widest gap is in Hawaii, where city departments start at $87,108 and Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement (Sheriff Division) starts at $50,208.

In the 24 states with both kinds of agency published, the city side starts higher in 12. At the top step the medians are $112,936 for city police and $105,273 for troopers.

Side by side in the same state

City police versus state trooper starting pay
StateCity police startTrooper startGap
Alaska$85,405Alaska State Troopers $97,365−$11,960
Arizona$75,847 (median of 3)Arizona Department of Public Safety $68,652+$7,195
California$96,367 (median of 12)California Highway Patrol $116,040−$19,673
Colorado$77,297 (median of 2)Colorado State Patrol $96,552−$19,255
Florida$74,915 (median of 2)Florida Highway Patrol $62,400+$12,515
Georgia$60,987Georgia State Patrol $63,684−$2,697
Hawaii$87,108Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement (Sheriff Division) $50,208+$36,900
Illinois$63,636Illinois State Police $90,828−$27,192
Kansas$70,975Kansas Highway Patrol $68,869+$2,106
Kentucky$65,596 (median of 2)Kentucky State Police $64,998+$598
Louisiana$54,421Louisiana State Police $57,680−$3,259
Maryland$68,359Maryland State Police $69,360−$1,001
Michigan$45,760Michigan State Police $71,448−$25,688
Minnesota$88,940 (median of 2)Minnesota State Patrol $79,469+$9,471
Nebraska$74,568Nebraska State Patrol $70,195+$4,373
Nevada$71,885Nevada State Police - Highway Patrol $76,609−$4,724
North Carolina$60,920 (median of 2)North Carolina State Highway Patrol $63,250−$2,330
Ohio$74,227Ohio State Highway Patrol $73,320+$907
Oklahoma$67,735Oklahoma Highway Patrol $64,238+$3,497
Oregon$84,053Oregon State Police $77,064+$6,989
Pennsylvania$69,463 (median of 2)Pennsylvania State Police $70,249−$786
Texas$78,493 (median of 8)Texas Department of Public Safety $65,851+$12,642
Virginia$61,734Virginia State Police $62,100−$366
Washington$117,792Washington State Patrol $91,332+$26,460

Median pay: city police and state troopers

Starting base pay Top-step base pay
  1. City and county police$75,433 → $112,936
  2. State troopers$70,222 → $105,273
View chart data
Median pay: city police and state troopers
NameStartTop step
City and county police$75,433$112,936
State troopers$70,222$105,273
Medians of published agencies. Base pay only.

Why the two differ

City departments set pay locally, often through a union contract, and big cities pay more to compete for recruits. State agencies pay one statewide scale, so a trooper posted to a cheap rural county earns the same base as one near a big city.

Troopers often get state benefits, a take-home car and statewide transfer options, which do not show up in base pay. Compare the full package before choosing.

Department pay scales

Figures come from the official pay schedules linked on each state and department page. Agencies revise pay plans, so confirm the fiscal year and step rules with the official source before you rely on a number.