Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Illinois
Police and sheriff's patrol officers in Illinois earned a median of $100,520 a year ($48.33 an hour) and a mean of $92,450 in May 2025. The median is 31.9% above the U.S. median of $76,210, ranking 3rd of 53 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $100,520
- Median hourly
- $48.33
- Mean annual
- $92,450
- Jobs on record
- 29,180
Grey needle: U.S. median, $76,210 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Illinois compare on pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Illinois ranks 3rd of 53 states and territories. California is highest at $118,880, $18,360 more than the Illinois median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | $118,880 | +56% | 65,940 |
| Washington | 2 | $102,080 | +34% | 9,160 |
| Illinois | 3 | $100,520 | +32% | 29,180 |
| Alaska | 4 | $99,130 | +30% | 1,260 |
| Colorado | 5 | $97,350 | +28% | 9,610 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 53 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Illinois pay go further after prices?
Prices in Illinois are about at the U.S. average, so the $100,520 median buys about what $100,562 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $76,210 U.S. median. On this measure Illinois ranks 2nd of 51, up from 3rd before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Illinois pay police and sheriff's patrol officers the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is highest at $107,810, 7.3% above the Illinois median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $107,810 | 22,680 |
| Springfield, IL | $82,740 | 420 |
| Decatur, IL | $81,800 | 200 |
| Bloomington, IL | $80,480 | 360 |
| Kankakee, IL | $78,840 | 190 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $78,520 | 430 |
| Rockford, IL | $78,510 | 500 |
| Peoria, IL | $76,670 | 630 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $61,580 | 680 |
| East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $61,460 | 840 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $60,790 | 1,010 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $59,160 | 930 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Illinois is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in Illinois?
BLS counts 29,180 jobs in Illinois, 4.4% of the 670,520 in the U.S. That is the 5th largest count among the 53 states and territories with a published figure. That is 4.8 of every 1,000 jobs in Illinois, a location quotient of 1.11: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.11 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Illinois
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.