BLS wage data · May 2025 Transport & safety O*NET-SOC 33-3051 Tax year 2026

Police Officer after tax: what $76,210 becomes in every state

Patrol officers play a critical role in public safety, navigating complex responsibilities that often include shift work and overtime. The national median wage for this occupation stands at $76,210, serving as a baseline for understanding compensation. It is important to note that this figure represents the middle of the pay scale, not a starting salary for new recruits. This analysis provides a breakdown of how take-home pay fluctuates based on state tax policies, though it is not tax advice.

Police Officer take-home at $76,210 — strongest and weakest states

Same gross wage everywhere: $76,210 a year. The four states keeping the most and the four keeping the least, ranked by take-home. Rent is the Zillow ZORI metro average for that state and is clearly labelled as a rent figure, not a tax.

State	State tax	Federal	FICA	Take-home / year	Take-home / month	Rent / month	Left after rent
Alaska no state income tax	$0	$7,936	$5,830	$62,444	$5,204	—	—
Florida no state income tax	$0	$7,936	$5,830	$62,444	$5,204	$2,076	$37,532
Nevada no state income tax	$0	$7,936	$5,830	$62,444	$5,204	$1,742	$41,540
New Hampshire no state income tax	$0	$7,936	$5,830	$62,444	$5,204	—	—
South Carolina flat 6.00%	$4,573	$7,936	$5,830	$57,871	$4,823	$1,569	$39,043
Vermont planning estimate	$4,573	$7,936	$5,830	$57,871	$4,823	—	—
District of Columbia planning estimate	$4,954	$7,936	$5,830	$57,490	$4,791	$2,433	$28,294
Oregon planning estimate	$5,335	$7,936	$5,830	$57,109	$4,759	$1,818	$35,293

State income tax on wages is zero in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming — those states share the same take-home on this wage and only differ in what the local rent does to it.

Best and worst states for Police Officer

Five states that keep the most of a $76,210 wage and five that keep the least. The full 51-state table follows.

All 51 states →

Highest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Alaska	$0	$62,444	$5,204
2. Florida	$0	$62,444	$5,204
3. Nevada	$0	$62,444	$5,204
4. New Hampshire	$0	$62,444	$5,204
5. South Dakota	$0	$62,444	$5,204

Lowest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Oregon	$5,335	$57,109	$4,759
2. District of Columbia	$4,954	$57,490	$4,791
3. Vermont	$4,573	$57,871	$4,823
4. South Carolina	$4,573	$57,871	$4,823
5. Minnesota	$4,573	$57,871	$4,823

The gap between Alaska and Oregon is $5,335 a year on an identical $76,210 wage.

Where Police Officer pay sits nationally

BLS percentile wages for this occupation, and what each level leaves after 2026 federal, FICA and state tax in the best and the worst state on the page (Alaska and Oregon).

Wage level (BLS national)	Gross / year	Take-home in Alaska	Take-home in Oregon	Difference
10th percentile 'BLS national'	$47,510	$40,354	$37,028	$3,326
25th percentile 'BLS national'	$59,290	$49,819	$45,669	$4,150
Median 'BLS national'	$76,210	$62,444	$57,109	$5,335
75th percentile 'BLS national'	$97,600	$77,492	$70,660	$6,832
90th percentile 'BLS national'	$115,120	$89,817	$81,759	$8,058

Percentile wages are published BLS OEWS values for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers; the take-home columns are the same engine used by every AfterTaxLab calculator. About 670,520 people work in this occupation nationwide.

How the state line moves this wage

The same $76,210 under different state tax models

While federal taxes and FICA are identical in every state, state income tax policies create a meaningful spread in annual earnings. In states like Oregon, where the state tax reaches $5,335, an officer’s net income is lower compared to states without a state income tax. This variation means that the same professional effort results in different monthly take-home amounts depending solely on the jurisdiction. Officers should analyze these state-specific tax burdens closely, as they represent a significant portion of an officer's yearly compensation potential.

Living in states with no state income tax, such as Alaska or Florida, can significantly change the net pay profile for law enforcement personnel. These states allow officers to keep a larger share of their $76,210 gross salary, resulting in a higher take-home amount compared to states with progressive income taxes. While this geographic advantage is clear, officers must also consider the cost of living. Even without state tax deductions, high regional rent costs can diminish the overall benefit of a larger net paycheck.

All 51 states, ranked for Police Officer

Every state and DC, ranked by take-home on the same $76,210 gross wage. Rent is the ZORI metro average for the metros published in that state.

#	State	State tax	Take-home / year	Effective total tax	Rent / month
1	Alaska AK	$0	$62,444	18.1%	—
2	Florida FL	$0	$62,444	18.1%	$2,076
3	Nevada NV	$0	$62,444	18.1%	$1,742
4	New Hampshire NH	$0	$62,444	18.1%	—
5	South Dakota SD	$0	$62,444	18.1%	—
6	Tennessee TN	$0	$62,444	18.1%	$1,607
7	Texas TX	$0	$62,444	18.1%	$1,587
8	Washington WA	$0	$62,444	18.1%	$2,278
9	Wyoming WY	$0	$62,444	18.1%	—
10	Arizona AZ	$1,905	$60,539	20.6%	$1,603
11	North Dakota ND	$2,210	$60,234	21.0%	—
12	Louisiana LA	$2,286	$60,158	21.1%	$1,598
13	Ohio OH	$2,286	$60,158	21.1%	$1,499
14	Indiana IN	$2,324	$60,120	21.1%	$1,552
15	Pennsylvania PA	$2,340	$60,104	21.1%	$1,690
16	Iowa IA	$2,896	$59,548	21.9%	—
17	Kentucky KY	$3,048	$59,396	22.1%	$1,348
18	California CA	$3,131	$59,313	22.2%	$2,861
19	Michigan MI	$3,239	$59,205	22.3%	$1,578
20	North Carolina NC	$3,239	$59,205	22.3%	$1,712
21	Arkansas AR	$3,353	$59,091	22.5%	—
22	Colorado CO	$3,353	$59,091	22.5%	$1,922
23	Delaware DE	$3,429	$59,015	22.6%	—
24	Kansas KS	$3,429	$59,015	22.6%	—
25	Virginia VA	$3,429	$59,015	22.6%	$1,810
26	Utah UT	$3,468	$58,976	22.6%	$1,641
27	Mississippi MS	$3,582	$58,862	22.8%	—
28	New York NY	$3,587	$58,857	22.8%	$2,200
29	Oklahoma OK	$3,620	$58,824	22.8%	$1,385
30	Missouri MO	$3,658	$58,786	22.9%	$1,486
31	West Virginia WV	$3,673	$58,771	22.9%	—
32	New Mexico NM	$3,734	$58,710	23.0%	—
33	Illinois IL	$3,772	$58,672	23.0%	$2,210
34	Alabama AL	$3,811	$58,633	23.1%	$1,433
35	Connecticut CT	$3,811	$58,633	23.1%	$2,462
36	Maryland MD	$3,811	$58,633	23.1%	$1,948
37	Massachusetts MA	$3,811	$58,633	23.1%	$2,599
38	Rhode Island RI	$3,811	$58,633	23.1%	$2,167
39	Wisconsin WI	$3,811	$58,633	23.1%	$1,563
40	Georgia GA	$3,955	$58,489	23.3%	$1,853
41	Nebraska NE	$3,963	$58,481	23.3%	$1,413
42	Maine ME	$4,192	$58,252	23.6%	—
43	New Jersey NJ	$4,192	$58,252	23.6%	—
44	Idaho ID	$4,340	$58,104	23.8%	—
45	Montana MT	$4,496	$57,948	24.0%	—
46	Hawaii HI	$4,573	$57,871	24.1%	$3,020
47	Minnesota MN	$4,573	$57,871	24.1%	$1,719
48	South Carolina SC	$4,573	$57,871	24.1%	$1,569
49	Vermont VT	$4,573	$57,871	24.1%	—
50	District of Columbia DC	$4,954	$57,490	24.6%	$2,433
51	Oregon OR	$5,335	$57,109	25.1%	$1,818

The largest single state tax bill on this wage is in Oregon at $5,335; across the 51 states the average state tax is $2,972. Local city and county taxes, credits and itemised deductions are excluded from every figure.

What this means in practice for Police Officer

When evaluating job offers, officers should look beyond the gross annual figure to see what remains after mandatory deductions. Federal taxes and FICA contributions remain consistent across the country, but state-level taxes introduce significant variation. For example, the difference in annual state tax between the highest and lowest take-home states is $5,335. Understanding these geographic differences is essential for officers considering a relocation, as local tax burdens directly impact the amount of money available for housing and essential living costs.

For police officers, comparing salaries across state lines requires looking at the actual net cash in hand. While a department might offer a competitive gross salary, the local tax rate and regional rent prices determine the true value of that pay. For instance, in the District of Columbia, after paying for housing, an officer may find themselves with $28,294 remaining annually. This demonstrates why checking local rent averages, like the $1,569 monthly figure in South Carolina, is vital for realistic budgeting.

A common mistake is assuming that a higher gross salary always translates to a better lifestyle. Officers often overlook the impact of state taxes, which can erase the perceived benefits of a pay raise. Relying on gross pay ignores the reality of mandatory withholdings and local housing markets. Before committing to a new position, it is wise to calculate the projected net income after both taxes and rent. This ensures that a move serves the officer's financial goals rather than just meeting an arbitrary salary target.

Police Officer pay after tax: common questions

Why is the median wage used for these calculations?

The $76,210 median wage represents the middle point of the current national pay distribution for patrol officers. It provides a consistent benchmark for comparing tax impacts without using extreme high or low ends of the spectrum.

Are federal taxes different for police officers?

No, federal income tax and FICA withholdings are identical in every state. An officer earning the median wage will see $7,936 withheld for federal taxes regardless of where they are stationed.

Do states with no income tax always pay more?

Not necessarily, as cost of living varies. While states like Nevada offer the benefit of zero state income tax, officers must still account for local rent and other regional expenses.

How does rent affect my net salary?

Rent is a major variable. For example, an officer in the District of Columbia might see their annual leftover income drop to $28,294 due to higher housing costs compared to other areas.

Is the $5,335 tax difference significant?

Yes, that represents the total spread between the best and worst state for take-home pay at the median wage. It is a substantial amount that impacts an officer's annual budget.

What should I check before accepting a transfer?

Always compare the net take-home pay after state taxes and estimate your local rent. This helps you understand what remains of your $76,210 salary for other essential living expenses.

Sources for this page

Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national estimates, May 2025 — series OEUN000000000000033305113 (annual median) and OEUN000000000000033305104 (annual mean), retrieved 2026-09-21 via the BLS Public Data API v2 — https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm · Occupation titles: O*NET 29.0 Database — https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html · Take-home figures: AfterTaxLab 2026 engine (/assets/js/tax-2026.js), single filer, no pre-tax contributions · Rents: Zillow Research ZORI (Metro), kamuya açık araştırma dosyası (Aug 2026).

Estimates for planning only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, single filer, no pre-tax contributions, no city or county tax. Same engine as every AfterTaxLab calculator · methodology.

Police Officer after tax: what $76,210 becomes in every state

Police Officer take-home at $76,210 — strongest and weakest states

Best and worst states for Police Officer

Where Police Officer pay sits nationally

The same $76,210 under different state tax models

All 51 states, ranked for Police Officer

What this means in practice for Police Officer

Police Officer pay after tax: common questions

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