How much does a Chief of Police make?

As of February 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Chief of Police in the United States is $121,400. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $114,600 to $128,700, with most professionals earning between $108,409 and $135,346.

Chief of Police Salaries by Percentile
Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $128,700 $10,725 $2,475 $62
Average $121,400 $10,117 $2,335 $58
25th Percentile $114,600 $9,550 $2,204 $55

Average Salary

25% $114,600 10% $108,409 90% $135,346 75% $128,700 $121,400 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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How much does a Chief of Police make by hour, week, month, and year?

Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Chief of Police salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. The average annual pay for a Chief of Police is about $121,400 a year, this translates to an approximate hourly rate of $58, a monthly salary of about $10,117, and a weekly pay of around $2,335 . Click the switch button below to see more details about Chief of Police hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay, and so on.

Last Updated on February 01, 2025
Last Updated on February 01, 2025

How Does Experience Level Affect a Chief of Police's Salary?

An entry-level Chief of Police with less than 1 year of experience earns about $116,948. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $117,455. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $117,963. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $118,978, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $120,297.

Levels Salary
Entry Level Chief of Police $116,948
Intermediate Level Chief of Police $117,455
Senior Level Chief of Police $117,963
Specialist Level Chief of Police $118,978
Expert Level Chief of Police $120,297
$116,948 0 yr
$117,455 < 2 yrs
$117,963 2-4 yrs
$118,978 5-8 yrs
$120,297 > 8 yrs
Last Updated on February 01, 2025
Entry Level 4%
Mid Level 3%
Senior Level 3%
Top Level 2%
Experienced 1%
View as graph
Last Updated on February 01, 2025

How much does salary of Chief of Police vary from city to city?

Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.

For example, as of February 01, 2025:
  • In San Francisco, CA, the average yearly salary for a Chief of Police is $151,700.
  • In New York, NY, the average annual salary is $141,800.
  • In Boston, MA, a Chief of Police earns $136,000 per year.

What is the salary trend of Chief of Police?

As of February 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Chief of Police compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $145,104 in 2023 to approximately $141,655 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Chief of Police salary trends, click here.)

Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.

Average Annual Salary of Chief of Police Over Time

2020
$???
2021
$???
2022
$???
$145,104
2023
$141,655
2024
$139,147
2025
2026
$???
Last Updated on February 01, 2025
2020
$???
2021
$???
2022
$???
2023
$145,104
2024
$141,655
2025
$139,147
2026
$???
Last Updated on February 01, 2025

Chief of Police Salary by Year

Year Average Annual Salary
2020 View More
2021 View More
2022 View More
2023 $145,104
2024 $141,655
2025 $139,147
2026 View More
Last Updated on February 01, 2025

Job Openings of Chief of Police

Salary.com job board provides millions of Chief of Police information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Chief of Police job openings or enter a new job title here.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Base Salary 73.4%
Bonuses 0.0%
Social Security 5.6%
401k/403b 3.6%
Disability 1.2%
Healthcare 3.9%
Pension 3.1%
Time Off 9.3%
Core Compensation
Core Compensation Median % of Total
Base Salary $121,400 73.4%
Bonus $0 0.0%
Value of Benefits
Core Compensation Median % of Total
Social Security $9,287 5.6%
401K/403B $5,949 3.6%
Disability $1,942 1.2%
Healthcare $6,371 3.9%
Pension $5,099 3.1%
Time Off $15,408 9.3%
Total Compensation $165,456 100%
Core Compensation is based on averages for this job and does not reflect personal factors used to determine your projected salary range.
Value of Benefits indicates the employer's expected contribution and paid time off.
Last Updated on February 01, 2025

What are the salaries of a Chief of Police with different levels of education?

Salaries for Chief of Police with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

According to our 100% employer reported salary sources the median salary for a Chief of Police with a Bachelor's Degree is $117,300 - $121,090. Please try our salary wizard to explore how other factors like location, Years of experience and number of direct reports can impact your base pay and bonus.

Chief of Police Salaries by Degree Level

Last Updated on February 01, 2025
Typical Education for Chief of Police
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.4%
High School 20.5%
Associates 12.0%
Bachelors 33.7%
Masters 27.1%
Doctorate 4.2%
Typical Education for Chief of Police
No Diploma 2.4%
High School 20.5%
Associates 12.0%
Bachelors 33.7%
Masters 27.1%
Doctorate 4.2%
view as table

Chief of Police Salaries by Degree Level

Last Updated on February 01, 2025

What Am I Worth?

FAQ about Chief of Police

1. What is the average salary of a Chief of Police?

The average annual salary of Chief of Police is $121,400. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Chief of Police is $58; the average weekly pay of Chief of Police is $2,335; the average monthly pay of Chief of Police is $10,117.

2. Where can a Chief of Police earn the most?

A Chief of Police's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Chief of Police earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chief of Police is $152,300.

3. What is the highest pay for Chief of Police?

The highest pay for Chief of Police is $135,346.

4. What is the lowest pay for Chief of Police?

The lowest pay for Chief of Police is $108,409.

5. What are the responsibilities of Chief of Police?

The Chief of Police responsibilities include police service planning, organizational development, personnel management, community policing, and community relations. Enforces the law on a town, city, or county level. Being a Chief of Police requires a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. May also be involved in administrative, financial/budgetary, and operations/labor relations tasks. In addition, Chief of Police typically reports to an elected official. The Chief of Police manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function. Working as a Chief of Police typically requires at least 10 years of law enforcement experience.

6. What are the skills of Chief of Police

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.

2.)

Background Check: A background check or background investigation is a review of a potential employee's criminal, commercial and financial records. The goal of background checks is to ensure the safety and security of the employees in the organisation

3.)

Medical Emergency: A medical emergency is an acute injury or illness that poses an immediate risk to a person's life or long-term health, sometimes referred to as a situation risking "life or limb".

About Our Data

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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The average salary for a Chief of Police is $121,400 per year in the United States, updated at February 01, 2025.
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