Best and Worst States to Be a Police Officer  

Law enforcement is a career that is always in the public eye, whether for heroic reasons or scandal. Currently, our nation’s 800,000 law enforcement officers have even more of a spotlight than usual, though, amid high-profile police brutality cases. As a result, the Justice Department and some local police departments have made rule changes like banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants in some situations. 

While some police officers have not acted in accordance with their duties, plenty of others put their lives on the line to protect the public every day. 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 $74,910 mean annual wage and typically a generous benefits package which 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 indicators of police-friendliness. Our data set ranges from the median income for law-enforcement officers to police deaths per 1,000 officers to state and local police-protection expenses per capita. 

“Some states make protecting and serving the public in a law enforcement career more appealing than others. The best states for police officers offer competitive compensation, supplemented by solid training that helps minimize the chances of deadly violence between officers and civilians. State-level policies like ‘red flag laws’ or ‘Blue Alerts’ also contribute to a better environment for police.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

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 $5,600, the fifth-highest wage in the country. Plus, the median annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers is nearly $85,600 (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.

Connecticut

Connecticut is the second-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 fourth-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.

Illinois

Illinois is the third-best state to be a police officer, and it has the highest median annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers, at over $101,700 (adjusted for the cost of living). The state has the eight-highest salary growth potential for police, too.

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.