Average Police Officer Salary in TexasNo State Income Tax
Police Officers in Texas earn an average of $71,462 per year across 5 metro areas. This is +4.6% lower than the national average.
Average Salary
$71,462
per year
Hourly Rate
$34.36
per hour
vs National
-4.6%
$74,910 national
Salary Range
$46,273
to $105,759
About Police Officer Careers in Texas
Police officers protect communities by enforcing laws, investigating crimes, responding to emergencies, and maintaining public safety. They work for municipal police departments, county sheriff's offices, state police agencies, and federal law enforcement. Beyond patrol, officers can specialize in detective divisions, SWAT, K-9, traffic enforcement, cybercrime, narcotics, and community policing. The national median annual salary is approximately $74,910, but total compensation including overtime, pension, and benefits significantly exceeds base pay in most jurisdictions.
In Texas, police officers earn an average of $71,462 per year as of 2026, with salaries ranging from $46,273 for entry-level roles to $105,759 for the most experienced professionals — +4.6% below the national average. Pay is influenced most by department size and jurisdiction — major city and state police agencies pay the most, overtime — patrol officers in high-crime departments regularly earn 20–40% above base in ot, and the specific metro area within Texas.
What Police Officers Really Earn in Texas
Texas employs one of the largest police forces in the country — Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data places it among the top states for the number of police and sheriff’s patrol officers — and demand for sworn officers across its big-city departments is consistently strong. The salary figures on this page reflect the most recent BLS release and are reviewed for the 2025–2026 period. Texas police pay sits around or modestly above the national average in raw dollars — lower than California or the Northeast — but two factors make the real value of a Texas officer’s paycheck stronger than the nominal number suggests.
The first is taxes: Texas has no state income tax, so a Texas officer keeps more of every dollar earned than an officer making the same gross salary in a high-tax state. The second is cost of living — outside the priciest pockets of Austin, most of Texas costs less to live in than the coastal markets, so pay stretches further on housing and everyday expenses. On top of base pay, most Texas departments add meaningful extra compensation: overtime, education and bilingual incentive pay, certification pay tied to TCOLE intermediate/advanced/master peace officer licenses, and shift differentials — so total annual compensation often runs above the published median shown below.
Pay is highest in the large metros. Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio lead the state, with their big municipal departments (Houston PD, Dallas PD, Austin PD, San Antonio PD, Fort Worth PD) competing for officers alongside the Texas Department of Public Safety; smaller metros and rural counties pay less in dollar terms but cost far less to live in. Every Texas officer must hold an active peace officer license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Many of the larger departments offer civil-service protections and structured step pay schedules, and most cities provide a defined-benefit pension (through systems such as TMRS or a city-specific police pension fund), which raises an officer’s lifetime earnings beyond what annual salary alone captures.
Cost of Living Adjusted Salary
Nominal Salary
$71,462
Cost of Living Index
93
100 = national average
Adjusted Salary
$76,841
purchasing power equivalent
After adjusting for Texas's cost of living (below average), a Police Officer's salary of $71,462 has the purchasing power of $76,841 in an average-cost area. Additionally, Texas has no state income tax, further increasing take-home pay.
Police Officer Salary by City in Texas
| City | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | Entry Level (P10) | Senior (P90) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $79,571 | $38.26/hr | $50,263 | $118,840 | 664 |
| Houston, TX | $74,612 | $35.87/hr | $48,950 | $112,057 | 701 |
| Dallas, TX | $73,280 | $35.23/hr | $47,969 | $108,145 | 883 |
| San Antonio, TX | $67,028 | $32.23/hr | $44,703 | $96,870 | 555 |
| El Paso, TX | $62,819 | $30.20/hr | $39,482 | $92,882 | 626 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS Survey, 2026. Sorted by median salary (highest first).
Texas vs National Average
Police Officer Salary Comparison
Employment in Texas
There are approximately 3,429 Police Officers employed across 5 metro areas in Texas.
Key Industries: Energy & Oil, Technology, Healthcare
State Income Tax: None (tax-free state)
Police Officer Salary Range in Texas
Entry Level (10th Percentile)
$46,273
Starting salary for new Police Officers
Median (50th Percentile)
$71,462
Mid-career Police Officer salary
Senior (90th Percentile)
$105,759
Top earners in the field
Related Occupations in Texas
Police Officer Salary in Neighboring States
Compare Police Officer salaries in Texas with nearby states to find the best opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is being a police officer in Texas worth it given the lower salary?
Often, yes. Texas police salaries are lower than California or the Northeast in raw dollars, but Texas has no state income tax, so officers keep more of what they earn, and most of the state has a lower cost of living than the coastal markets. After taxes and living costs, a Texas officer’s real buying power frequently rivals states with higher headline pay — and the big-city departments hire steadily, with structured step raises and a defined-benefit pension on top of base salary.
Which Texas cities pay police officers the most?
The large metros pay the most: Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio, where big municipal departments compete for officers and offer the highest step-schedule pay. Smaller metros and rural counties pay less in dollar terms but cost far less to live in. See the city-by-city table above for current figures.
Do Texas police officers earn more than the base salary shown here?
Usually, yes. The figures on this page reflect BLS base wages, but most Texas departments add substantial extra pay through overtime, education and bilingual incentive pay, certification pay tied to TCOLE intermediate, advanced, and master peace officer licenses, and shift differentials. Together with specialty assignments such as detective, K-9, or SWAT, these routinely push total annual compensation well above the published median.
What license do you need to be a police officer in Texas?
Every police officer in Texas must hold an active peace officer license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). That requires completing a TCOLE-approved basic peace officer academy, passing the state licensing examination, and meeting background, medical, and psychological requirements. Officers can earn higher TCOLE certifications — intermediate, advanced, and master peace officer — which many departments reward with certification pay.
What is the average Police Officer salary in Texas?
The average Police Officer salary in Texas is $71,462 per year ($34.36/hour) based on 2026 data across 5 metro areas. This is 4.6% below the national average of $74,910.
What is the highest paying city for Police Officers in Texas?
Austin, TX is the highest paying city for Police Officers in Texas, with a median salary of $79,571 per year. The lowest paying metro area is El Paso, TX at $62,819.
What is the salary range for Police Officers in Texas?
Police Officer salaries in Texas range from $46,273 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $105,759 (experienced, 90th percentile). The median salary is $71,462 per year.
About This Data
Salary data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. State-level averages are calculated from metro area data within Texas. Figures represent 2026 estimates and may not reflect all employers or self-employed workers. Cost of living adjustments use regional indices to provide purchasing power context.