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Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in Tacoma, WA

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area earn a median of $115,120 a year, an average of $114,880. About 4,520 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$115,120
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$114,880
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$94,290
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$136,110
Top of the range
People employed
4,520
In Tacoma metro area
Rent share of median wage
16.6%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Tacoma

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,597
per month, in Tacoma, WA
Income needed for median rent
$63,900
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median police and sheriff's patrol officers wage
$115,120
80.2% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
16.6%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$83,857
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Tacoma area. Read the Tacoma, WA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Median $77,070
Mean $80,600
Employed 1,030
Median $101,870
Mean $104,710
Employed 6,010
Median $64,550
Mean $63,630
Employed 980
Modesto, CA
-14.7%
Median $98,230
Mean $96,980
Employed 960
Median $48,710
Mean $50,970
Employed 1,980
Richmond, VA
-45.5%
Median $62,720
Mean $69,660
Employed 3,410
Median $81,810
Mean $83,530
Employed 1,240
Fremont, CA
+14.7%
Median $132,000
Mean $130,190
Employed 7,990

See police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $115,120 / year
$115,120
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Washington (WA)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in Tacoma, WA: FAQ

How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Tacoma, WA?

The median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $115,120 a year (about $55 an hour for full-time work). The average is $114,880, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $115,120 a good salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Tacoma, WA?

Yes. It is above the $63,900 needed to keep the median rent of $1,597 a month at 30% of gross income, and the median rent takes 16.6% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid police and sheriff's patrol officers earn in Tacoma, WA?

The top 10% earn more than $136,110 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $94,290.

How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in Tacoma, WA?

About 4,520 people work in this occupation in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.