Law enforcement is a career that is always in the public eye, whether for heroic reasons or scandal, and there are 800,000 law enforcement officers nationwide. Being a police officer is significantly more dangerous than many other occupations. Because of such risks, law-enforcement agencies must offer enough incentives to attract and retain officers. To start, there’s a $69,160 mean annual wage and typically a generous benefits package that can include retirement-contribution matches, tuition assistance, ample leave time, a take-home vehicle, and access to health and fitness facilities.
How well officers are compensated varies from place to place, though, as does the quality of their work environment. Officers are more likely to be attracted to police departments that steer clear of scandal and corruption and that are transparent with their communities.
In order to determine the best states in which to pursue a law-enforcement career, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the median income for law-enforcement officers to police deaths per 1,000 officers to state and local spending on police.
Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Best States to Be a Cop
Overall Rank |
State |
Total Score |
Opportunity & Competition Rank |
Law Enforcement Training Requirements Rank |
Job Hazards & Protections Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | California | 61.87 | 5 | 2 | 12 |
2 | Illinois | 60.38 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
3 | Connecticut | 60.08 | 36 | 1 | 4 |
4 | District of Columbia | 56.47 | 1 | 3 | 48 |
5 | Colorado | 56.14 | 6 | 8 | 26 |
6 | Maryland | 54.81 | 42 | 7 | 5 |
7 | Ohio | 53.62 | 29 | 5 | 25 |
8 | Minnesota | 53.23 | 15 | 18 | 3 |
9 | Washington | 51.69 | 14 | 13 | 20 |
10 | Massachusetts | 51.27 | 26 | 12 | 14 |
11 | Tennessee | 50.96 | 12 | 4 | 45 |
12 | New York | 50.11 | 2 | 40 | 2 |
12 | Texas | 50.11 | 3 | 11 | 44 |
14 | Rhode Island | 49.11 | 32 | 21 | 8 |
15 | Georgia | 48.64 | 21 | 10 | 32 |
16 | South Dakota | 48.03 | 25 | 9 | 35 |
17 | Maine | 47.40 | 44 | 17 | 10 |
18 | Pennsylvania | 46.04 | 17 | 26 | 23 |
19 | Oklahoma | 45.77 | 8 | 15 | 46 |
20 | Missouri | 45.56 | 20 | 19 | 30 |
21 | Utah | 44.67 | 45 | 25 | 6 |
22 | Virginia | 44.62 | 16 | 28 | 21 |
23 | Indiana | 44.53 | 39 | 14 | 31 |
24 | Wyoming | 43.65 | 13 | 22 | 39 |
25 | Michigan | 43.63 | 22 | 23 | 33 |
26 | North Carolina | 43.59 | 30 | 27 | 19 |
27 | Delaware | 43.57 | 41 | 24 | 15 |
28 | New Jersey | 43.48 | 19 | 39 | 11 |
29 | Nebraska | 42.44 | 9 | 46 | 13 |
30 | Iowa | 42.42 | 28 | 30 | 18 |
31 | New Hampshire | 42.20 | 37 | 44 | 1 |
32 | Florida | 42.00 | 24 | 42 | 9 |
33 | Arizona | 41.81 | 10 | 32 | 28 |
34 | Idaho | 41.28 | 49 | 20 | 29 |
35 | Vermont | 39.65 | 40 | 38 | 16 |
36 | North Dakota | 39.45 | 18 | 49 | 17 |
37 | New Mexico | 39.36 | 7 | 16 | 51 |
38 | Wisconsin | 37.90 | 48 | 31 | 24 |
39 | Kansas | 37.76 | 33 | 34 | 34 |
40 | South Carolina | 37.67 | 27 | 33 | 37 |
41 | Montana | 36.66 | 31 | 35 | 36 |
42 | Louisiana | 34.86 | 11 | 43 | 47 |
43 | Mississippi | 34.62 | 35 | 37 | 43 |
44 | Kentucky | 34.55 | 46 | 29 | 38 |
45 | Oregon | 34.50 | 50 | 41 | 27 |
46 | Alabama | 33.66 | 23 | 47 | 41 |
47 | West Virginia | 33.26 | 34 | 45 | 40 |
48 | Arkansas | 32.05 | 43 | 36 | 50 |
49 | Nevada | 31.43 | 38 | 48 | 42 |
50 | Hawaii | 30.27 | 47 | 51 | 22 |
51 | Alaska | 26.20 | 51 | 50 | 49 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
- Most
- 1. District of Columbia
- 2. New Mexico
- 3. Louisiana
- 4. Arizona
- 5. North Dakota
- Fewest
- 47. Kentucky
- 48. Maryland
- 49. Iowa
- 50. Washington
- 51. Oregon
- Highest
- 1. Illinois
- 2. Washington
- 3. New York
- 4. Michigan
- 5. Pennsylvania
- Lowest
- 47. New Hampshire
- 48. Louisiana
- 49. South Carolina
- 50. Mississippi
- 51. Arkansas
- Highest
- 1. Rhode Island
- 2. Texas
- 3. Arkansas
- 4. Oklahoma
- 5. Arizona
- Lowest
- 47. District of Columbia
- 48. Hawaii
- 49. Oregon
- 50. Alaska
- 51. Maryland
- Lowest
- 1. Maine
- 2. New Hampshire
- 3. Connecticut
- 4. Rhode Island
- 5. Wyoming
- Highest
- T-46. Arkansas
- T-46. Alaska
- T-46. New Mexico
- T-46. Louisiana
- T-46. Tennessee
- T-46. District of Columbia
- Highest
- 1. North Dakota
- 2. Nebraska
- 3. Alaska
- 4. Hawaii
- 5. Minnesota
- Lowest
- 47. Maryland
- 48. Ohio
- 49. Indiana
- 50. Illinois
- 51. New Mexico
- Highest
- T-1. District of Columbia
- T-1. California
- 3. Alaska
- 4. New York
- 5. Maryland
- Lowest
- 47. West Virginia
- 48. Maine
- 49. Indiana
- 50. Arkansas
- 51. Kentucky
Note: “Law-enforcement officers” includes police and sheriff’s patrol officers, detectives and criminal investigators.
In-Depth Look at the Best States to Be a Police Officer
California
California is the best state to be a police officer, and it has one of the highest per-capita spending on state and local police and public safety. These expenditures help provide good compensation for law enforcement officers. The average monthly starting salary of a police officer in California is a little over $5,500, the fourth-highest wage in the country. Plus, the median annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers is over $84,100 (adjusted for the cost of living) – also the third-highest nationwide.
The Golden State requires rigorous training for officers, with 560 hours of field training required, the second-highest amount in the country. Prior to that, the state requires 664 hours of basic training and does not let officers work before they have completed basic training.
To top things off, California requires officers to take de-escalation training, which reduces the chances of fatalities for both officers and suspects. It also has “Blue Alerts” which can help hasten the apprehension of suspects who injure or kill police officers.
Illinois
Illinois is the second-best state to be a police officer, and it has the highest median annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers, at nearly $98,600 (adjusted for the cost of living). The state has the third-highest median income growth rate for police, too, at over 14% per year.
The Prairie State also requires officers to continue their professional education even after they have completed basic training and field training. They must complete an additional 40 hours of training annually (the second-most in the country), covering things like “avoiding deadly chokeholds” and “learning about mental health concerns.” Illinois also requires officers to have at least a bachelor’s degree, leading to a more educated police force.
Finally, Illinois is one of the 21 states that have “red flag” laws, which allow the temporary seizure of firearms from people who demonstrate a risk of causing violence. This may reduce the number of deadly shootings that officers have to contend with.
Connecticut
Connecticut is the third-best state to be a police officer, and it focuses on making sure that officers are highly trained. Connecticut requires 1,321 hours of basic training, the most in the country, plus 400 hours of field training (the third-most). The state also doesn’t permit officers to work before completing training. While officers will have to commit a lot of time to training, they will be much more prepared for the job compared to officers in other states. In addition, part of the reason for the extensiveness of the training is that the state doesn’t require officers to have a college degree.
The Constitution State is also very safe for police officers. It has the third-lowest rate of police killings per capita and the sixth-lowest share of officers who have ever been assaulted. Part of this is due to the fact that Connecticut has the third-lowest violent crime rate in the country. It also has relatively low property crime and vehicle fatality rates.
In addition, Connecticut requires de-escalation training for officers, and has both Blue Alerts and red flag laws.
Ask the Experts
The future of law enforcement rests in the hands of policy, the availability of resources, and the relationship between cops and the residents they vow to serve and protect. To advance the discussion, we asked a panel of experts for their insight on the following key questions:
- What is the long term outlook for the law-enforcement field?
- Do you think police departments should invest more in technology and equipment or focus more on developing soft skills for use in community policing?
- What strategies have proven effective in diversifying the police force so that it is more representative of the community?
- Will police staffing shortages remain a pressing issue throughout 2024 as well?
Ask the Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the best and worst states for police officers, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions: 1) Opportunity & Competition, 2) Law Enforcement Training Requirements and 3) Job Hazards & Protections.
We evaluated those dimensions using 30 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for police officers.
We then determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.
Opportunity & Competition – Total Points: 33.33
- Law-Enforcement Officers per Capita: Double Weight (~7.41 Points)
Note: “Law-enforcement officers” includes police and sheriff’s patrol officers, detectives and criminal investigators. - Average Starting Salary of Police Officers: Double Weight (~7.41 Points)
- Median Income for Law-Enforcement Officers: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Note: “Law-enforcement officers” includes police and sheriff’s patrol officers, detectives and criminal investigators. This metric was adjusted for the cost of living. - Median Income Growth for Law-Enforcement Officers: Double Weight (~7.41 Points)
Note: “Law-enforcement officers” includes police and sheriff’s patrol officers, detectives and criminal investigators. This metric measures the growth of income over time (2023 vs. 2022). - Salary Growth Potential of Law-Enforcement Officers: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Note: “Law-enforcement officers” includes police and sheriff’s patrol officers, detectives and criminal investigators. This metric highlights the income growth (Percentile 90 / Percentile 10) that a police officer could obtain during his or her career. - Projected Law-Enforcement Officers per Capita by 2030: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Note: “Law-enforcement officers” includes police and sheriff’s patrol officers, detectives and criminal investigators.
Law Enforcement Training Requirements – Total Points: 33.33
- Police Officer Hours Training Required: Double Weight (~8.89 Points)
Note: This composite metric considers the number of hours of basic and field training required for police officers. - States Allowing Police Work Before Basic Training: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers whether a state allows or forbids police to work before training. - Police Officer Continued Professional Education Hours Required: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
Note: Continued professional education hours include things such as avoiding deadly chokeholds, developing new strategies, and learning about mental health concerns. This repeated annual training may influence officer quality more than a longer initial course sequence. - Police Officer Education Requirements: Half Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric measures whether a state requires police officers to obtain an associate or bachelor’s degree. - States with Laws Requiring Officers to Be Trained to Respond to Mental Health, Substance Use and Behavioral Disorder Issues: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
Note: This binary metric takes into consideration whether a state has or doesn’t have some form of law requiring officers to be trained to respond to mental health, substance use and behavioral disorder issues. - Requirement of De-escalation Training: Double Weight (~8.89 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of “De-escalation training” in a state. De-escalation training teaches officers to slow down, create space, and use communication techniques to defuse a potentially dangerous situation. De-escalation training provides officers with strategies to calmly deal with people who are experiencing mental and emotional crises.
Job Hazards & Protections – Total Points: 33.33
- Police-Misconduct Confidentiality Law: Full Weight (~1.52 Points)
Note: This metric measures whether police officers’ disciplinary records are confidential, have limited public availability or are completely public. - Police Body-Worn Camera Legislation: Full Weight (~1.52 Points)
- Investigation/Prosecution on Use of Force by Police Officers: Full Weight (~1.52 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures whether a state has or has not passed laws relating to the investigation or prosecution of use of force. Statutes addressing investigations and prosecution generally fall into two categories, 1) empowering an entity to conduct investigations and prosecute or 2) outlining procedurally how an investigation must be conducted. - Police Officer Decertification Requirements: Full Weight (~1.52 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures whether statutory law enforcement decertification requirements are in place in the state. Certificates are issued by the state government as a requirement to legally work as a police officer in that state. Police officers who are decertified are no longer legally allowed to work in the jurisdiction that certified them unless their certification is reinstated. - Share of Law Enforcement Departments Carrying Naloxone: Half Weight (~0.76 Points)
- Degree of Lethal Force Allowed for Police Use: Half Weight (~0.76 Points)
- Presence of “Red Flag” Laws: Full Weight (~1.52 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of “Red flag laws” in a state. “Red flag laws” allow the seizure of guns before people can commit acts of violence. - Presence of “Blue Alerts”: Full Weight (~1.52 Points)
Notes: This metric considers the presence or absence of “Blue Alerts” in a state. The Blue Alert provides the means to speed the apprehension of violent criminals who kill or seriously injure local, state, or federal law enforcement officers. - Police Deaths per 1,000 Officers: Double Weight (~3.03 Points)
- Persons Killed by Police per Capita: Double Weight (~3.03 Points)
- Share of Law Enforcement Officers Assaulted: Double Weight (~3.03 Points)
- Pursuit-Related Fatalities per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight (~1.52 Points)
Note: This metric includes occupants of the police vehicle, occupants of the chased vehicle, occupants of other vehicles and nonoccupants. - Violent-Crime Rate: Full Weight (~1.52 Points)
- Property-Crime Rate: Full Weight (~1.52 Points)
- Road Safety: Half Weight (~0.76 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of fatal accidents per 100 million vehicle miles driven. - Share of Homicide Cases Solved: Triple Weight (~4.55 Points)
- 9-1-1 Calls Delivered to Local & Regional Answering Points per Capita: Double Weight (~3.03 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the 2021 National 911 Progress Report and measures the number of 9-1-1 calls delivered from the national 911 control office to primary PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points), regardless of whether they were answered or dispatch occurred, aggregated at the state level. - State & Local Police-Protection Expenses per Capita: Half Weight (~0.76 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of April 8, 2024 from U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Projections Central State Occupational Projections, Council for Community and Economic Research, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Urban Institute, Institute for American Police Reform, The Officer Down Memorial Page, Mapping Police Violence, Murder Accountability Project, Ballotpedia, The National 911 Program, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Blue Alert System, Institute of Criminal Justice Training Reform, AP News and the Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation.
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