How much do Cops make?

Question

I want to become a Cop. However...I want to know how much the job pays. I want to be able to support myself and a family. I dont want to "just barley get by", but I dont want to be rich either. I want to make pretty good money where I can support a family, and have a pretty nice house. IS THIS POSSIBLE BEING A COP?

Answer 1

well...it depends where u live....but they start st 43,000 n then as the yrs come u get more

Answer 2

Be prepared to work 2 jobs,They do not make nearly enough. It mainly depends on what state your in. A road deputy in Tennessee makes about 25 to 30 thousand a year. But in the state of Hawaii they can make as much as 40, 000 a year. It will also depend on if you have a degree. Some states are now requiring a degree in criminal justice just to be hired on. If you carry it a bit farther and become an investigator or the sheriff you will make more money.

Answer 3

It depends on the city where you work, and a lot of law enforcement departments will allot increased salaries if you have a college degree, especially a Master's. If you work out in a rural area where people still get around on horses you can look to make in the area of $18,000/year, where as if you work in a burrough in NYC you can make $50,000+/year. Having been a cop in the Air Force for almost 4 years, I've seen a lot of my friends leave the service and become cops at home, making an average of 40k a year because their experience places them in a better salary bracket starting out. Again, your earnings are based on location and education/experience, so take those into consideration.

Answer 4

It depends on what department they are hired by! Some departments pay pretty good, some not so good.

Whatever they make, it ain't enough! After hearing what these fine men and women have to put up with (I have friends on several different police forces) ... I wouldn't want that job at twice the pay!

A good cop can make a living, but we should look into "hazardous duty pay" for officers. Dang it ... they don't get paid enough for the job they do.

Even one dead cop is one too many.

Answer 5

Depends on where you are in the country, how much schooling, and experience in the law enforement field.

Some depertments offer incentives such as giving more money monthly for having a college degree, more money for years of experiences or certain schools.

Generally, the average police officer that I have worked or talked is starting out at around $30,000 in smaller areas, to $40,000 in larger areas. Keep in mind that is being fresh out of cadet school and with no other incentives.

Answer 6

Well, if you had given me the state and town in which you live I would be able to give you a better answer; A cop in the town of New, Windsor, New York makes over 70,000 per year after 5 years in the force; in New york City you will make about 60,000 after 5 years, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida you will make about 32,000 per year, in Pensacola, Florida you will make about 32,000 per year, in Mount Dora, Florida about 38,000 per year; and so on. The north and the west coast will pay the best wages for police officers because there are big cities with large populations paying out high taxes and have higher crime rates. In the south and mid west you will not be able to make a good living because the wages are substandard and the taxes from which these services derive their income are low. My son has been with the police in Florida for 8 years and makes a mere 32,000 per year, just enough to pay his rent and bare necessities. A house is out of the question. I have had to help him out on many occasions because his pay just does not provide enough. I hope you are in New York State, where they think highly and respectfully of their police officers, in Florida you will have a very rough time making ends meet......KECK

Answer 7

Well plan on getting by unless you do alot of overtime and work all the extra side jobs you can. It depends on what State you are in as the pay varies. Officer pay is alot less than a LT's, captains etc pay is. You really have to enjoy this type of work in order to make a career out of it. I know for a fact--------------37yrs. State Patrol probably have the highest "starting out pay.

Answer 8

It will vary from city to city. some make as low as 7 or 8 dollar a hour.

In Atlanta for example the city pay about 40,000 to start and average pay of about 50,000.

Now this is just regular pay, not inculding either overtime or off duty jobs, All of the officers I know make more money on thier off duty jobs than they do on thier regular jobs.

All of those police cars you see at work zones on the interstate, those are off duty officers just sitting there making 20 to 40 dollars a hour

those officers you see at most pro sport games and esp college games, yes, off duty making 20 to 40 a hour

And private party security, even more, I have gotten up to 300 dollars for just one evening private party before.

But the people who stay working as a officer are the ones who would do it regardless of the money, you have to want the life style, it is not just a job

Answer 9

Being a cop will have a decent salary for you and a family. There is no big money from the Police Work except when you will be corrupt and its no longer decent work.

Answer 10

Here in Louisville, Ky they start at about 30,000 and after 5 yrs go to 43, 000 but the overtime is very abundant and so are off time security jobs, so there is money to be made

Answer 11

It really depends on where you want to be a cop at. Rural cities only start cops off around 26,000 a year while bigger cities like Chicago, LA, New York start cops off at over 44,000 a year.