With National Police Week starting on May 12 and the median annual salary for a police officer reaching over $69,000, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Best & Worst States to Be a Police Officer in 2024, as well as expert commentary, to help identify where this hazardous but rewarding career is the most worthwhile.
WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key metrics. The data set ranges from the median income for law-enforcement officers to police deaths per 1,000 officers to state and local spending on police.
| Best States for Police Officers | Worst States for Police Officers | |
| 1. California | 42. Louisiana | |
| 2. Illinois | 43. Mississippi | |
| 3. Connecticut | 44. Kentucky | |
| 4. District of Columbia | 45. Oregon | |
| 5. Colorado | 46. Alabama | |
| 6. Maryland | 47. West Virginia | |
| 7. Ohio | 48. Arkansas | |
| 8. Minnesota | 49. Nevada | |
| 9. Washington | 50. Hawaii | |
| 10. Massachusetts | 51. Alaska |
Best vs. Worst
- The District of Columbia has the most police and sheriff’s patrol officers per 100,000 residents, which is 6.6 times more than in Washington, the fewest.
- Illinois has the highest median annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers (adjusted for cost of living), which is 2.1 times higher than in Mississippi, the lowest.
- Rhode Island has the fewest individuals killed by police per 1,000,000 residents, which is 13.1 times fewer than in New Mexico, the most.
- Maine has the fewest violent crimes per 1,000 residents, which is 7.9 times fewer than in the District of Columbia, the most.
- The District of Columbia has the highest state and local police-protection expenses per capita, which is 4.3 times higher than in Kentucky, the lowest.
