Guide
Texas Police Pay: Starting and Top Salary by Department
Published
Police officers in Texas start at a median base salary of $78,358 across 9 departments in this guide, and reach a median $102,304 at top step. Plano Police Department starts highest at $96,108, and Austin Police Department has the highest top step at $143,578.
El Paso Police Department has the lowest starting pay of the group at $56,791. Every figure comes from the agency’s own pay schedule.
Texas police pay by department
View chart data
| Name | Start | Top step |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Police Department | $78,627 | $143,578 |
| Plano Police Department | $96,108 | $121,305 |
| Arlington Police Department | $90,499 | $115,540 |
| Fort Worth Police Department | $78,358 | $109,857 |
| Dallas Police Department | $81,232 | $102,304 |
| Texas Department of Public Safety | $65,851 | $98,085 |
| San Antonio Police Department | $58,452 | $79,620 |
| Corpus Christi Police Department | $64,380 | $78,732 |
| El Paso Police Department | $56,791 | $65,743 |
Texas departments compared
| Department | Start | Top step | Years to top | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Police Department | $78,627 | $143,578 | 23 | Not published |
| Plano Police Department | $96,108 | $121,305 | 5 | 2027 |
| Arlington Police Department | $90,499 | $115,540 | 20 | Not published |
| Fort Worth Police Department | $78,358 | $109,857 | 14 | FY 2026 |
| Dallas Police Department | $81,232 | $102,304 | 9 | 2026 |
| Texas Department of Public Safety | $65,851 | $98,085 | 20 | FY 2026-27 |
| San Antonio Police Department | $58,452 | $79,620 | Not published | Not published |
| Corpus Christi Police Department | $64,380 | $78,732 | 3.5 | Not published |
| El Paso Police Department | $56,791 | $65,743 | Not published | FY 2026 |
Of the 7 Texas agencies that publish a timeline, Corpus Christi Police Department reaches top step in 3.5 years, Plano Police Department reaches top step in 5 years, Dallas Police Department reaches top step in 9 years, Fort Worth Police Department reaches top step in 14 years, Arlington Police Department reaches top step in 20 years, Texas Department of Public Safety reaches top step in 20 years, Austin Police Department reaches top step in 23 years.
The federal estimate
The Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 survey puts the median wage for all police and sheriff’s patrol officers in Texas at $75,900, across about 63,100 officers. That figure covers every agency and experience level, so it sits apart from the department schedules above.
See the full Texas page for every published agency, sources and the date each figure was last checked.
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.