Police Salary - How Much Does a Police Officer Earn?
Considering the salary that is associated with a certain type of profession is an important part of the career choices that are made. The salary of a police officer can vary greatly and nearly double with more than ten years of service, additional education and the expriecne that comes with being on the job and reaching your way up the ranks.
The beginning salary of a police officer ranges between $52,000 and $55,000 for the first year of service. Through the second year of service, this number can increase upwards of $57,000 and through the third year, the police officer can earn as much as $62,000 per year. Throughout the completion of the first five years, the amount increases and the police officer can earn upwards of $80,000 for their service and the experience that has been obtained.
There are many things that the police officer can do to increase the amount of money that can be earned while on the job, these things include:
- Overtime that is paid to the police officer working more than forty hours per week
- Special event police work that can pay up to three times the regular rate
- Shift premiums for overnight hours between eight pm and eight am
- Court appearances as a witness or for ticketed offenses
There are many things that the police officer can do other than these aspects to increase the amount of money that can be earned while on the job. The police officer can take part in courses and continuing education to climb the ranks while on the job.
Eventually, when enough experience has been obtained the police officer can consider becoming a sergeant or commander, which can allow the officer to earn more than $100,000 per year. Increasing the experience and working through the ranks while getting the experience required to apply for the position can be an effective way to potentially increase the earning potential while gaining seniority in the workplace.
The potential for the increase in salary comes with the experience that is obtained from the position. More and more people are beginning to consider a career in policing because in as little as four months through the education and training that can be completed, the student can graduate with a career where they are going to earn as much as sixty thousand dollars. In addition, the shifts are often scheduled so the student is able to maintain three days off every single week.