Want a high paying job? Join the police...

[nord1899]

Newsday story

Last year, the average pay for nearly 2,600 officers, including rank and file and brass, was $103,000, up from $101,000 in 2001, according to Nassau administration officials.

Last year, according to county records in Suffolk, the average pay for the 2,566 police officers hit $110,741, up from from $105,792 in 2001.

Whoa.

 

[Maverick]

thats an average though...whats the typical pay of a patrolman vs a commissioner or chief of police? I'd assume the difference must be substantial.

 

[smaks10]

Something is very fishy. I know for a fact your average cop doesn't make nearly that much money.

 

[nord1899]

In Nassau, officers enter the Police Academy earning $20,800. By their seventh year on the force, when they reach top scale, their base pay is $73,859. A decade ago officers with the same experience earned $52,000.

In Suffolk, according to a contract which runs out this year, officers earn $49,621 while training at the academy. After five years they reach a top scale of $84,545.

 

[Ausm]

Average cop where I live makes between 40K-50K


Ausm

 

[StageLeft]

You have to look at the different areas. Cops do make a decent living though.

 

[spidey07]

that's not really high paying.

Also a lot of it comes from overtime like working special events and what not.

 

an exception, believe me. Most people don't get rich by becoming a police.

Insane, none the less. I would do it.

 

[stebesplace]

Officers in my area make around 46,200. Some make more in the high 60's, some in the mid to low 40's. It all depends on their role.

-Steve

 

[slikmunks]

not bad, i'd think about it, if i were uneducated, and didn't have too many other options.... but as of right now, no way in hell do i want to be a cop 🙂 no offense to the police officers out there, i'm sure they love their job 😀

 

[nord1899]

To actually add an opinion to this.

Nassau and Suffolk counties are on Long Island (where Brooklyn and Queens are as well). Cops in NYC probably make around $35k/year. That is a stark difference.

 

[Stealth1024]

You do get paid to risk your life... On the other hand let's cut down on the traffic cops.

 

Originally posted by: Skoorb
You have to look at the different areas. Cops do make a decent living though.

Decent...maybe. Depends on area. 43k where I come from is starting pay. That wont get you much in Dupage, IL, I think the 3rd richest county in America.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: FallenHero

Originally posted by: Skoorb
You have to look at the different areas. Cops do make a decent living though.

Decent...maybe. Depends on area. 43k where I come from is starting pay. That wont get you much in Dupage, IL, I think the 3rd richest county in America.

Exactly - I bet those in the armpit of Mississipi make a lot less!

 

[justint]

Originally posted by: slikmunks
not bad, i'd think about it, if i were uneducated, and didn't have too many other options.... but as of right now, no way in hell do i want to be a cop 🙂 no offense to the police officers out there, i'm sure they love their job 😀

Police Officers are not neccessarily uneducated these days. Many jurisdictions now require at least an associates if not a 4 year degree.

Those figures for Nassau county are very high, but that is a very expensive place to live. You also have to realize that most police officers also work a ton of overtime which substantially increases thier pay on top of base pay. Add in night diffirentials, language benefits, court time, etc. and it can get up there. However, most officers make nowhere near that average.

 

[vetteguy]

Isn't this like saying the average salary at Microsoft is $1 million? I mean, if you factor in Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, then even the janitors' average would be up.

 

[zCypher]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
Isn't this like saying the average salary at Microsoft is $1 million? I mean, if you factor in Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, then even the janitors' average would be up.

I wonder how much a janitor for MS makes 😛

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Salary.com says that the median average salary across the U.S. for a patrol officer is $41,194, so either there's a CEO/clerk disparity between administrative and beat positions, or the two areas cited have pay scales out of line with the rest of the country. Not that I expect anyone becomes a policeman to get rich.

 

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: FallenHero

Originally posted by: Skoorb
You have to look at the different areas. Cops do make a decent living though.

Decent...maybe. Depends on area. 43k where I come from is starting pay. That wont get you much in Dupage, IL, I think the 3rd richest county in America.

Exactly - I bet those in the armpit of Mississipi make a lot less!

here are some 1997 stats...trying to find better

* Starting salaries for local police officers averaged about
$28,400, ranging from an average of $18,800 in the smallest
jurisdictions to $30,600 in the largest. About two-thirds of
all local police officers worked for a department that
authorized collective bargaining.

here

 

[Thegonagle]

The average good patrolman or woman in the city doesn't make nearly enough, IMO.

 

[OutHouse]

The cops in my home town Arvada Colorado start at 55K but you have to have a 4 year degree to even apply.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Dallas Police Department Salaries

Ranges from $35k as a trainee up to $62k as a detective

 

Originally posted by: Garfang
The average good patrolman or woman in the city doesn't make nearly enough, IMO.

so true.

 

[nord1899]

Originally posted by: FallenHero

Originally posted by: Garfang
The average good patrolman or woman in the city doesn't make nearly enough, IMO.

so true.

And these two county's are right next to NYC.

 

[StageLeft]

I'd thought of being a cop.

I'd really really love to give tickets like it's going out of style to pricks on the road. I'd write more tickets than I can even put into words.