Sheriff earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level sheriff earnings begin at:

$38.60 per hour

$80,290 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level sheriff earnings begin at:

$34.41 per hour

$71,570 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level sheriff earnings begin at:

$24.99 per hour

$51,990 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level sheriff earnings begin at:

$19.32 per hour

$40,190 per year

10th percentile

Starting level sheriff earnings begin at:

$17.84 per hour

$37,100 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Sheriff salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Washington $98,070
New Jersey $97,860
Illinois $83,080
Alaska $81,640
Oregon $80,860
Delaware $80,140
District of Columbia $79,310
New York $79,080
Colorado $78,560
Hawaii $78,540
Connecticut $77,640
Minnesota $77,610
Maryland $76,880
Pennsylvania $76,880
Massachusetts $76,340
Nevada $76,010
Wisconsin $71,590
Arizona $66,020
Rhode Island $65,440
Ohio $64,610
Michigan $64,510
Iowa $63,970
Texas $63,800
North Dakota $63,200
New Hampshire $62,130
Florida $61,970
Indiana $61,800
Nebraska $61,590
Montana $61,190
Utah $60,390
Idaho $60,040
Maine $60,040
Vermont $60,040
Wyoming $60,040
New Mexico $59,580
Virginia $58,480
Missouri $51,990
South Dakota $50,660
Kansas $50,480
Oklahoma $50,480
Georgia $48,730
North Carolina $48,390
South Carolina $48,380
Alabama $48,290
Tennessee $47,850
West Virginia $47,850
Kentucky $47,310
Puerto Rico $45,500
Louisiana $43,220
Arkansas $39,890
Mississippi $37,390
California $100,330

How do sheriff salaries compare to similar careers?

Sheriffs earn about the same as related careers in Missouri. On average, they make less than detectives but more than legal secretaries.

Career Median Salary
Detective salary $61K
Private detective salary $77K
Coroner salary $60K
Arbitrator salary $59K
Forensic science technician salary $59K
Police officer salary $52K
Sheriff salary $52K
Paralegal salary $49K
Fish and game warden salary $47K
Legal secretary salary $47K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)