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Police Officer Salary in Illinois
In May 2024, police and sheriff's patrol officers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of $101,530 ($48.81 an hour) and a mean annual wage of $92,020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey. BLS counted 29,790 police and sheriff's patrol officers working in Illinois — about 4.5% of the 666,990 such jobs in the United States. This page breaks down how that pay compares with the national figures for the occupation, where Illinois ranks among all states, and how pay is spread from entry-level to top earners inside the state. For wider context, the U.S. all-occupation median wage in the same survey was $23.80 an hour; the Illinois page linked below puts this occupation alongside every other job BLS publishes for the state.
How Illinois ranks for police officer pay
Among the 51 states and areas where BLS publishes a median for this occupation, Illinois ranks #3 for police officer pay. The Illinois median of $101,530 is 33.1% higher than the national median of $76,290, and the state mean of $92,020 compares with a national mean of $79,320 (16.0% higher). The highest-paying state, California, posts a median of $115,400, so Illinois sits $13,870 behind the top of the market. For a police officer weighing a move, that gap has to be set against Illinois's housing and living costs, which this wage survey does not measure.
The pay spread inside Illinois
Not every police officer in Illinois earns the median. The lowest-paid 10% earned $55,830 or less in May 2024, and the bottom quarter earned $74,390 or less. At the top of the distribution, the highest-paid quarter earned at least $108,890 and the top 10% earned at least $119,020. Experience, employer type, shift and overtime patterns, and metro-versus-rural location all push individual pay toward one end of that range. Statewide, the occupation is also a meaningful part of the Illinois job market: by employment it ranks #46 among the occupations BLS publishes for the state — see the full Illinois salary page for the state's complete tables.
Police Officer pay in Illinois at a glance
| Measure | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $101,530 | $76,290 |
| Mean annual wage | $92,020 | $79,320 |
| Median hourly wage | $48.81 | $36.68 |
| 10th percentile | $55,830 | $47,640 |
| 25th percentile | $74,390 | $58,980 |
| 75th percentile | $108,890 | $97,190 |
| 90th percentile | $119,020 | $115,280 |
| Employment | 29,790 | 666,990 |
For the full state-by-state picture of this occupation, see the Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by state page. For every occupation's pay in this state, see average salary in Illinois.
Police Officer in Illinois FAQ
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Illinois?
The median wage for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Illinois was $101,530 a year ($48.81 an hour) in May 2024, and the mean was $92,020, across 29,790 jobs.
Is Illinois a good-paying state for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Illinois ranks #3 of 51 published states and areas for police officer median pay. Its median of $101,530 is 33.1% higher than the national median of $76,290.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in Illinois?
BLS estimated 29,790 police and sheriff's patrol officers jobs in Illinois in May 2024 — about 4.5% of the 666,990 such jobs nationwide.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.