As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Sheriff/Police Chief in the United States is $117,200. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $94,238 to a high of $151,580, with most professionals earning between $105,181 and $135,196.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $135,196 | $11,266 | $2,600 | $65 |
| Average | $117,200 | $9,767 | $2,254 | $56 |
| 25th Percentile | $105,181 | $8,765 | $2,023 | $51 |
An entry-level Sheriff/Police Chief with less than 1 year of experience earns about $110,921. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $111,818. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $112,715. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $114,509, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $116,841.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Sheriff/Police Chief | $110,921 |
| Intermediate Level Sheriff/Police Chief | $111,818 |
| Senior Level Sheriff/Police Chief | $112,715 |
| Specialist Level Sheriff/Police Chief | $114,509 |
| Expert Level Sheriff/Police Chief | $116,841 |
| Entry Level | 5% |
| Mid Level | 5% |
| Senior Level | 4% |
| Top Level | 2% |
| Experienced | 0% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Sheriff/Police Chief 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 Sheriff/Police Chief salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Sheriff/Police Chief information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Sheriff/Police Chief job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Sheriff/Police Chief and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $117,200 | 73.3% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $8,966 | 5.6% | ||
| 401K/403B | $5,743 | 3.6% | ||
| Disability | $1,875 | 1.2% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,371 | 4.0% | ||
| Pension | $4,922 | 3.1% | ||
| Time Off | $14,875 | 9.3% | ||
| Total Compensation | $159,952 | 100% | ||
| 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% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Sheriff/Police Chief is $117,200. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Sheriff/Police Chief is $56; the average weekly pay of Sheriff/Police Chief is $2,254; the average monthly pay of Sheriff/Police Chief is $9,767.
A Sheriff/Police Chief'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 Sheriff/Police Chief earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Sheriff/Police Chief is $147,824.
The highest pay for Sheriff/Police Chief is $151,580.
The lowest pay for Sheriff/Police Chief is $94,238.
Enforces the law on a town, city, or county level. Responsibilities include police service planning, organizational development, personnel management, community policing, and community relations. May also be involved in administrative, financial/budgetary, and operations/labor relations tasks. Requires a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Typically reports to an elected official. 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. Typically requires at least 10 years of law enforcement experience.
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.
Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
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
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".
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.
