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Police Lieutenant Salary in the United States

How much does a Police Lieutenant make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Police Lieutenant in the United States is $107,234 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

However, a Police Lieutenant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $133,413
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $95,410 to $120,937
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $84,645
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View as table View as graph 25% $95,410 10% $84,645 90% $133,413 75% $120,937 $107,234 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Police Lieutenant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $120,937 $10,078 $2,326 $58
Average $107,234 $8,936 $2,062 $52
25th Percentile $95,410 $7,951 $1,835 $46
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Key Factors That Influence Police Lieutenant Salaries

A Police Lieutenant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Police Lieutenant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Police Lieutenant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Criminal Investigator (0-0 years): $75,983
  • Police Sergeant (0-5 years): $83,556
  • Police Lieutenant (5+ years): $107,234
  • Sheriff/Police Chief (5-10 years): $130,580
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Criminal Investigator0-0 years$75,983
Police Sergeant0-5 years$83,556
Police Lieutenant5+ years$107,234
Sheriff/Police Chief5-10 years$130,580
$75,983 Criminal ...
$83,556 Police Se...
$107,234 Police Li...
$130,580 Sheriff/P...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Police Lieutenants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $135,254
  • San Francisco: $133,773
  • Oakland: $130,954

What Skills Can Increase a Police Lieutenant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 11.44% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Talent Acquisition (Mentioned in 1.72% Job Postings): Talent acquisition is the process of identifying organizational staffing needs, recruiting qualified candidates and selecting the candidates best suited for the available positions.
  • Financial Management (Mentioned in 1.22% Job Postings): Financial management focuses on ratios, equities and debts. It is useful for portfolio management,distribution of dividend,capital raising,hedging and looking after fluctuations in foreign currency and product cycles.Financial managers are the people who will do research and based on the research, decide what sort of capital to obtain in order to fund the company's assets as well as maximizing the value of the firm for all the stakeholders. It also refers to the efficient and effective management of money (funds) in such a manner as to accomplish the objectives of the organization. It is the specialized function directly associated with the top management. The significance of this function is not seen in the 'Line' but also in the capacity of the 'Staff' in overall of a company. It has been defined differently by different experts in the field. The term typically applies to an organization or company's financial strategy, while personal finance or financial life management refers to an individual's management strategy. It includes how to raise the capital and how to allocate capital, i.e. capital budgeting. Not only for long term budgeting, but also how to allocate the short term resources like current liabilities. It also deals with the dividend policies of the share holders.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 11.44%
Talent Acquisition 1.72%
Financial Management 1.22%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Police Lieutenant's salary.
  • Procurement: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Strategic Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Procurement
$131,898
23%
Project Management
$126,536
18%
Strategic Planning
$124,391
16%
Financial Management
$122,247
14%
Program Management
$122,247
14%
Public Administration
$121,174
13%
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Police Lieutenant Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Police Lieutenant salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $113,891. While startup companies pay approximate $97,003.

Police Lieutenant Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$97,003
Growth Stage51~500$102,410
Established501~5000$110,172
Enterprise5000+$113,891

Police Lieutenant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Police Lieutenant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Police Lieutenant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Police Lieutenant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Police Lieutenant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$128,681$62.020%

Police Lieutenant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Police Lieutenant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Police Lieutenant Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Police Lieutenant, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Sheriff/Police Chief role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $130,580 - a projected growth of 22% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Police Lieutenant

Salaries for a Police Lieutenant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $116,042 in 2023 to around $114,695 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Police Lieutenant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Police Lieutenant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$116,042
2024
$115,933
2025
$114,695
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $116,042
2024 $115,933
2025 $114,695
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Police Lieutenant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Police Lieutenant

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FAQ about Police Lieutenant

1. Where can a Police Lieutenant earn the most?

A Police Lieutenant'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 Police Lieutenant earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Police Lieutenant is $135,254.

2. What is the highest pay for Police Lieutenant?

The highest pay for Police Lieutenant is $133,413.

3. What is the lowest pay for Police Lieutenant?

The lowest pay for Police Lieutenant is $84,645.

4. What are the responsibilities of Police Lieutenant?

Supervises a team of police sergeants and other law enforcement support staff. Responsible for officer assignments, patrol operations, and investigations. Prepares and reviews reports. Ensures all policies and procedures are followed. Coordinates in-service training, staff performance evaluation and development. Requires a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or closely related field. Typically reports to a chief of police or police captain. Typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in larger groups of moderate complexity. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility. May give input into developing the budget. Typically requires 3+ years of managerial experience. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Police Lieutenant?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Police Lieutenant roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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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