The average salary of a police officer in Washington State rests on the higher end the national average for law enforcement, but varies thoughout the state based on location.
Washington State pays its police officers an average yearly salary of $29,000 (as of October 2015),
according to Indeed.com, or about $1,000 less than the national middle number. Indeed.com said, "Average police officer salaries for job postings in Washington are 3 percent higher than average police officer salaries for job postings nationwide."
Urgent: Should All Police Officers Have to Wear Body Cameras?
Although, that average yearly salary that Indeed.com has determined for Washington State police officers seems low after researching a number of its police departments, all departments that revealed compensation packages were offering figures equivalent to more than $50,000 in annual salary.
According to the
Washington State Patrol, its compensation package for trooper cadets is a monthly base rate of $3,859; cadets that graduate start out at a $4,290 trooper base rate, which will increase to $4,548 after the first six months as a trooper. At 18 months, troopers receive their first annual raise.
Washington State Patrol troopers also earn "geographical pay," which is a supplemental percentage increase based on the county in which they're stationed.
Vote Now: Does Media Coverage Make Police Officers' Jobs More Dangerous?
The Evergreen State is home to about 7 million people; Seattle, its largest city, accounts for about a 10th of its population.
Seattle Police Department recruits earn a monthly rate $4,602 while in the academy, but the rate increases to $5,770 for recruits sworn in as full-fledged SPD officers, with raises in six and 18 months and then annually afterward.
Washington State troopers stationed in King County, where Seattle is seated, received the greatest geographical pay bump at 10 percent.
In Spokane, a city on the eastern edge of Washington State, the salary of a police officer is a little lower relative to Seattle though it remains higher than $50K,
according to Salary.com.
Walla Walla, a city with fewer than 32,000 residents pays its police officers a monthly salary of $4,790 upon entry onto the force.
Tell Us: Does Racism Play a Role in Police Officers' Actions?
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.