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How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in Des Moines?

$81,810a year

Median yearly pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $39.33 an hour or $6,818 a month.

Hourly
$39.33
Vs. national median
+7%
Rank among cities
84 of 386
Jobs in the area
1,240
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $62,540Median: $81,810Highest 10%: $104,500
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$62,540$30.07
25th$72,700$34.95
Median$81,810$39.33
75th$104,500$50.23
90th$104,500$50.23

Other cities in Iowa

Median yearly pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers.

Omaha, NE$80,280
Cedar Rapids, IA$79,280
Waterloo, IA$78,970
Sioux City, IA$78,940
Iowa City, IA$76,190
Ames, IA$73,840
Dubuque, IA$72,170
Davenport, IA$68,550
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer salary in Iowa Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer salary in all states

Related jobs in Des Moines

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$117,800
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$110,200
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer$90,370
Detective and Criminal Investigator$79,560
Correctional Officer and Jailer$63,230
Transportation Security Screener$61,590
Firefighter$56,910
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$45,700
Security Guard$37,550
Lifeguard$26,480
Salaries for every job in Des Moines, IA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make an hour in Des Moines?

The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $39.33 ($81,810 a year).

Do police and sheriff's patrol officers make more in Des Moines than the national average?

Yes: $81,810 against $76,210 nationally, 7% more.

How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?

The median in Iowa is $74,470, so Des Moines pays 10% more.

Where does Des Moines rank for police and sheriff's patrol officer pay?

84 of 386 metro areas with data.

How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make starting out in Des Moines?

The lowest-paid 10% make $62,540 or less a year; the top 10% make $104,500 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.