The New York State Department of Labor predicts that the need for workers in protective service occupations in New York will grow by nearly 2 percent from 2008 through 2018. In police forces across the state, the salaries of officers differ due to their responsibilities and daily job duties. Within each police job description, variation in pay rates also exists according to officers’ experience.
Requirements for Police Officer Employment in NYS
The following are the requirements to become a police officer in New York State:
- Must be a United States Citizen;
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent;
- Must have a valid Driver’s License;
- Must successfully complete all phases of the hiring process to be considered for employment.
- Must be at least 21 years old.
Parking enforcement officers received the lowest rates of pay of all police officers in New York as of 2010, reports the NYSDL. Starting salaries for paring enforcement workers averaged $25,140 annually, while wages for the most experienced in the field averaged $41,830. The need for parking enforcement officers in New York will decrease by nearly 7 percent from 2008 through 2018, resulting in the elimination of around 40 jobs during that time frame.Salary Of a Parking Enforcement Officers In New York
Police Patrol Officers/Deputy Sheriff
Police officers who patrol New York on foot, horseback or motorcycle or by car received average annual wages of $60,940 as of 2010, estimates NYSDL. More than 54,000 New Yorkers worked as patrol officers, making it the largest field for police workers in the state at the time.
Entry-level patrol officers in New York earned an average of $40,590 per year, while those with the most experience averaged $71,110. The demand for police officers in New York was predicted to increase by roughly 3 percent from 2008 through 2018, creating more than 1,500 new jobs.
Detectives
The 9,200 detective working in New York in 2010 enjoyed the highest average annual salary among police officers who were not supervisors, according to the NYSDOL. Salaries for detectives in the state averaged $69,390 per year. Upon entering the field, New York detectives received a yearly average of $43,120, while the most experienced brought home salaries that averaged $82,520 annually. Predicted to grow by more than 4 percent from 2008 through 2018, the occupation of detective was the fastest-growing police-related job in New York state.
Sergeants/Supervisors
Sergeants of an entire shift and detectives in New York received an average of $90,060 per year, making them the highest-paid police officers statewide as of 2010, explains the NYSDL. Salaries for supervisors averaged $65,470 at the entry level. Those with the most experience managing police officers made a yearly average of $102,360. Job growth for management in police stations was predicted to increase by nearly 2 percent from 2008 through 2018, creating around 210 new positions across New York.
Benefits
The benefits that police officers are eligible for include paid vacation, sick leave and medical and life insurance. NYS police officers also get paid for overtime. This can bring a significant to boost to their earnings, as overtime is often plentiful.
Some officers will also receive an allowance for their uniforms. Guaranteed pensions are another benefit to police officers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that many police officers are able to retire after just 25 or 30 years of service at half of their annual pay.
