How much money does a police officer make?

Ridley,

The salary of police officers varies greatly. You can expect an entry-level salary around $35 - $45,000 in major metropolitan areas. Small towns in rural areas sometimes pay just barely above minimum wage. So, it all depends. Some departments have "collective bargaining," a sort of unionization, where they bargain with the employer over wages and benefits. Some departments pay extra for things like shift differential, clothing allowance, having a college degree, or advanced peace officer certifications, bilingual pay, etc. These extras can really add up. Then there is overtime, double pay if you work holidays, court pay, etc. If you are assigned to a specialty unit, there is often higher pay for that: K9, SWAT, hostage negotiator, etc.

All the pay in the world does not compensate for the fact that any day you work could be your last day alive. It is a very serious job, and, it's not something you think about every day, but it is always in the back of your mind. There is also a lot of sacrifice in other ways. You will work many holidays. You will miss many gatherings with friends and family. You will have strange "Weekends," perhaps Tuesday and Wednesday. Of course, the nice thing about that, is you can go places and they won't be crowded!

The work is rewarding, but, it comes at a price. If you are interested in law enforcement, I encourage you to get good grades, don't hang out with people who are up to no good, and be careful what you post on social media. The background checks are very thorough!

Best of luck to you!
Kim

Kim I think covered it. But those who persue law degrees to pass Sargent and higher up civil service examines make more money.
I have read articles by noted self defense expert Masaad Ayoob. He was a law enforcement officer who studied the law and was able to prosecute cases in his state and had more success than some assistant attorneys. In that regard, he probably made more than most regular patrol officers.
Also depends who you work for. State Troopers can make more, but usually they have higher standards. Whereas Detroit PD starts at like $25k'ish. But yes I think the average is in the $30k-$40k's.
Some smaller cities are consolidating fire and police roles. Which I do not understand, as they are vey specialized nowadays, but I hear it's happening. If so they should pay more.