Hold it right there, it’s time for the best states for police officers. It’s time to see if the boys and girls in blue have a good place to call home. Also, we’re are going to want to avoid telling them I called them “boys and girls;” they may not take to kindly to that.
Being a police officer is a tough gig. Just ask any of the guys from Law & Order. After 20 years on the force, they were canceled with almost no warning. Thanks for nothing, Dick Wolf. Due to the waterfall of police procedurals currently on television, the average person probably feels like they could be as great a cop as any cop on the force. What they are confusing is the fact that they could eat the same amount of donuts as any cops on the force–being a cop takes a certain type of person.
Look at Mel Gibson, he was a terrible cop–way too racist much of a loose cannon. Yet Danny Glover was a great cop, because he was able to DEDUCE when he was getting too old for this shit. And an even greater cop because he just did it anyway in order to save some innocent bystanders or perhaps his daughter from very lethal weapons.
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Personally, the closest I’ll ever get to being a cop is standing around looking bored near a parade. I just don’t have what it takes. Especially in this climate when so many people feel unsafe around the police. I was privileged to feel safe whenever I saw a cop–I still do. Many people of color and other folks who are marginalized do not feel safe in the presence of the police, even when they’ve done nothing wrong, due to repeated violent incidents throughout the country. I am not the person to deal with that issue; I am just a person who should quietly listen to others who are more informed on that one.
Police officers have to be able to navigate this new terrain. Speaking of terrain they also need to find a great place to call home. We have just the list to find the right state for them. It would be interesting to find out if any of the 25 best states for forensic science technicians would also be part of this list.
Now, in looking for the ideal states for police officers, we used three very important points. First, the employment rates for every state. No matter what the political climate is, it would be right to say that police officers are consistently in-demand. The higher the employment rates, the better.
Next, is knowing their wages. This would usually top most people’s priorities when it comes to the job they will choose to have. While that is fair enough, we should remember that it isn’t just our paycheck we should be looking at. There are things just as important to how much you earn.
Lastly, each state’s cost of living rates was also included in the rankings. The lower the living expenses of the state, the higher it would most probably rank in the list.
We used the averaging method because all three are just as crucial in knowing which American states would be the safest bets for these police officers. Basically, the states that would dominate the list would have above average wages, low living expenses, and great employment rates.
Information about employment rates and annual median wages for police officers were driven from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the cost of living data was sourced from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center.
To know which states proved to be the best states for police officers, continue reading.
25. Alabama
Annual median wage: $40,790
Cost of living: 91.2
Employment: 10,440
To say that police officers are in-demand in Alabama would be quite an understatement. Their employment rates show a large force.
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24. Oklahoma
Annual median wage: $40,510
Cost of living: 88.6
Employment: 7,050
We are continuing our list of best states for police officers with Oklahoma that is one of the country’s ideal places to raise a family in, mainly because of how affordable everything is in the state. Nothing would probably cost you an arm and a leg, and in the case of police officers, jobs would not really be that hard to find. Although the average wages they have are way lower than the national average, if you are practical enough, you could still be able to save some of your earnings in the long run.
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23. Mississippi
Annual median wage: $33,430
Cost of living: 86
Employment: 7,320
Mississippi ranks 23rd in our list of best states for police officers. It is America’s cheapest state. In the same way, the state offers the cheapest wages for police officers. Does that make it a bad state for them? In all practicality, the honest answer is no, it does not. They have really good employment rates for police officers, which makes job hunting easier.
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22. Maryland
Annual median wage: $60,740
Cost of living: 125
Employment: 13,790
Maryland’s wages hang tight on the national average, which is neither a good or a bad thing considering how high their cost of living rates are. We all know of Maryland as an expensive place to live, but when you want to work where you know you can be really good at what you do, it is still a great state to be. Just look at their employment rates and you’ll know what we mean.
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21. Massachusetts
Annual median wage: $62,850
Cost of living: 134.7
Employment: 17,000
Massachusetts has always had a great reputation in terms of profession and employment. It always had the highest wages and most impressive employment rates for whatever occupation. In terms of police officers, the state provides wages that are higher than the average, and have great employment rates for them as well. Just remember how expensive it could be and be prepared for little compromises to make your wage enough.
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20. Nebraska
Annual median wage: $54,460
Cost of living: 91.3
Employment: 3,460
Police officers might not get paid with wages higher than the average in Nebraska, the number 20 in our list of best states for police officers, but they can sure keep a huge chunk of their earnings to themselves because of the low cost of living rates they have. Their employment rates are not as high as other states in the US, but that does not mean you shouldn’t try looking for a job there. Their ideal living expenses are enough to encourage you to work in Nebraska.
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19. Kansas
Annual median wage: $43,950
Cost of living: 90.4
Employment: 6,030
Kansas do not really impress with its wages because they are lower than the national average, but people are surely dreaming of living in a place where living expenses are as cheap as in Kansas. If their wages discourage you, get encouragement from the employment rates they have for police officers. While not topping the list, it is high enough to convince you that indeed, Kansas is one of the best states for police officers.
18. Iowa
Annual median wage: $54,170
Cost of living: 91.7
Employment: 5,280
Iowa’s wages for police officers do not meet the national average, but could still be enough for you to sustain a decent living when you choose to work and live there. They have a low cost of living rates, making most people wish they could get a good-paying job in Iowa since real estate and other living expenses tend to be cheaper there than in other places in the country. The employment rates they have look good enough, too.
17. Minnesota
Annual median wage: $61,330
Cost of living: 101.1
Employment: 8,790
If you are a police officer looking for states with high wages and low cost of living expenses, you might want to check what Minnesota offers. They have wages that are higher than the national average, and though their cost of living rates stay on the average, at least they are not so expensive to have all your budget only revolve around rent and bills. Police officers are also in-demand in Minnesota, judging from their employment rates alone.
16. North Carolina
Annual median wage: $41,260
Cost of living: 94.2
Employment: 20,900
If North Carolina’s wages do not impress you much, we bet your eyes will pop when you see how high their employment rates are. The state ranks eighth-highest when it comes to employment rates for police officers–what is going on in North Carolina? Do we want to know?
15. Virginia
Annual median wage: $49,860
Cost of living: 100.2
Employment: 17,920
Virginia’s low cost of living expenses usually makes people want to move there and settle for good. They are known to have great employment opportunities for various occupations, including police officers. The employment rates they have is one of the best ones in America.
14. Georgia
Annual median wage: $38,430
Cost of living: 91.4
Employment: 24,670
This state has the sixth-highest employment rates for police officers in America. The demand is so strong you might actually think it is a calling to these professionals. You might get a bit disappointed with their average wages, though. However, when you realize how cheap it will cost you to get a home and sustain a comfortable life in Georgia, you might just want to hop on a plane and be a police officer there.
13. Colorado
Annual median wage: $67,330
Cost of living: 102.1
Employment: 9,380
Colorado has so much to offer, in terms of jobs and occupations. For police officers, they have wages that make it past the national average, attracting more and more of these people to make the move there. The cost of living expenses are a just a little over the average, but because wages are higher, you will surely be able to enjoy your hard-earned money.
12. Wisconsin
Annual median wage: $54,750
Cost of living: 96.9
Employment: 12,040
Its low cost of living expenses might already be enough to make people want to move and work in Wisconsin that ranks 12th in our list of best states for police officers. What’s even better about this state is how cheap the living expenses are. That means not having to rack credit cards to pay the bills since your wages can already get them all settled.
11. Tennessee
Annual median wage: $42,310
Cost of living: 89.8
Employment: 12,860
Tennessee’s high demand for police officers might be because of the many crimes it has. Even so, that reason shouldn’t keep you off from working in there especially if you are a police officer. It also means more jobs to do, which is always a good thing. The wages they have are not very high, but with the cost of living expenses they have, even the lowest wages could be enough.
10. Missouri
Annual median wage: $43,790
Cost of living: 90.8
Employment: 13,030
Despite the low wages offered to police officers in Missouri, there are still people who see it as a good state for this profession. Understandably so, because the state has high employment rates. That equates to more jobs available for those who would like to become cops. They also have one of the cheapest cost of living expenses in the US.
9. New York
Annual median wage: $69,150
Cost of living: 135.2
Employment: 49,020
New York has the second-highest wages for police officers in the US, and it proudly occupies the ninth place on this list of best states for police officers. No wonder, since the state usually tops the wages offered to various jobs and occupations. In the same way, their high cost of living rates have also been so popular not only in the country but all over the world. What makes people still want to get a job in New York is its consistently high employment rates, plus the show NYPD Blue.
8. Arizona
Annual median wage: $63,800
Cost of living: 98.1
Employment: 11,580
High wages and low cost of living expenses are equally crucial when looking for a place where you should work. In that case, Arizona is indeed one of the best ones in the US. They have wages higher than the national average and cost of living rates lower than most states in America. Their employment rates do not disappoint, too, and is even one of the highest.
7. Indiana
Annual median wage: $47,710
Cost of living: 87.9
Employment: 11,210
We are continuing our list of best states for police officers with this state that is the second-cheapest places to live in the US. If that isn’t enough to convince you how ideal Indiana is for police officers, look at their impressive employment rates. The state might be cheap, but it does not mean they come behind in terms of economy and business. The wages they offer, although lower than the average, can feel so much more because of how affordable everything is in Indiana.
6. Florida
Annual median wage: $55,050
Cost of living: 99
Employment: 40,370
Ranking third-highest in terms of employment rates, Florida sure is one of the ideal places for police officers. Despite offering a salary that is below the national average, what makes people still prefer Florida over other states is how they can effortlessly sustain a living there, not to mention how relatively easier it is to bag a job in the state.
5. Pennsylvania
Annual median wage: $66,790
Cost of living: 102.8
Employment: 26,490
Running fifth-highest in terms of wages for police officers, there is no denying how great Pennsylvania, the number 5 in our list of best states for police officers is for these people, and generally everyone. The cost of living rates they have sure is higher than the average, but with the high wages usually offered by the state, how can you possibly think twice? They have really impressive employment rates for various occupations as well.
4. Ohio
Annual median wage: $57,410
Cost of living: 93
Employment: 24,210
Ohio’s claim to the list of best states for police officers is its employment rates. The demand looks so strong that police officers would feel they are being called to duty in Ohio. Apart from that, the cost of living rates they have is one of the best ones in the US–by best, we mean affordable. This makes their wages feel like so much more, no matter how small it compares against other states’ offers.
3. Michigan
Annual median wage: $58,230
Cost of living: 88.2
Employment: 16,220
Michigan ranked higher on our list of best states for police officers than most states because of its low cost of living rates. Who wouldn’t want to find a job in a state where rent and food basically cost to nothing? What’s even better is how Michigan has high employment rates. There is simply no job shortage in there. The wages they offer might not always meet the national average, but when you spend almost nothing on your expenses, what could be even better?
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2. Illinois
Annual median wage: $73,140
Cost of living: 95.5
Employment: 31,710
Illinois ranks second in our list of best states for police officers. It holds the record for the highest-paying state for police officers in the US. Quite impressive, right? The state is also known for their cost of living rates that are lower than the average, making their wages feel more than it already is. It is like having your cake and being able to eat it, too. The employment rates they have ranks fourth-highest, does that impress and convince you enough to get a job there?
1. Texas
Annual median wage: $58,520
Cost of living: 90.7
Employment: 60,790
Texas did it again, topping the list for best states for an occupation. With its employment rates that topped our list, we are not at all surprised. What’s great about Texas is that despite their booming economy, cost of living rates stay lower than the national average. People now earn more than they did before, but still end up paying their bills in the low prices Texas is known for.
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Police officers usually face dangerous situations and can even act like the saviors we need in times of distress. It could be hard to find a place with no crime, for the truth is that it is everywhere. If you ever get burned out of where you are working right now and would need a diversion, you can perhaps try to look for jobs in one of the best states for police officers.
