Career Atlas USA

Best States for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1Illinois88.6 / 100
  2. 2New York88.4 / 100
  3. 3New Jersey82.9 / 100
  4. 4District of Columbia75.8 / 100
  5. 5Pennsylvania75.3 / 100
  6. 6Texas68.4 / 100
  7. 7Ohio66.7 / 100
  8. 8California65.8 / 100
  9. 9Massachusetts64.3 / 100
  10. 10New Mexico62.1 / 100
  11. 11Oklahoma61.1 / 100
  12. 12Wisconsin60.9 / 100
  13. 13Florida58.5 / 100
  14. 14Alaska56.8 / 100
  15. 15Indiana56.8 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).