Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Rhode Island
Police and sheriff's patrol officers in Rhode Island earned a median of $77,230 a year ($37.13 an hour) and a mean of $78,760 in May 2025. The median is 1.3% above the U.S. median of $76,210, ranking 21st of 53 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $77,230
- Median hourly
- $37.13
- Mean annual
- $78,760
- Jobs on record
- 1,940
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 Rhode Island compare on pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Rhode Island ranks 21st of 53 states and territories. California is highest at $118,880, $41,650 more than the Rhode Island median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 19 | $77,970 | +2% | 9,720 |
| Utah | 20 | $77,310 | +1% | 5,500 |
| Rhode Island | 21 | $77,230 | +1% | 1,940 |
| Ohio | 22 | $77,020 | +1% | 23,430 |
| Texas | 23 | $75,900 | -0% | 63,100 |
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 Rhode Island pay go further after prices?
Prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the U.S. average, so the $77,230 median buys about what $75,508 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $76,210 U.S. median. On this measure Rhode Island ranks 26th of 51, down from 21st 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 Rhode Island pay police and sheriff's patrol officers the most?
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA is highest at $76,850, about the same as the Rhode Island median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $76,850 | 3,120 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
BLS counts 1,940 jobs in Rhode Island, 0.29% of the 670,520 in the U.S. That is the 47th largest count among the 53 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in Rhode Island, a location quotient of 0.90: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.90 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Rhode Island
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.