National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Police Officers at $72,280/year. Police Officers earn 14% more nationally. The gap is $8,600 per year — or $717 per month.
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Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Police Officer
$72,280
national median/year
$6,023/mo • $35/hr
Annual salary gap
$8,600
Police Officers earn 14% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $97,484.
Best states for Police Officers
vs Teachers
California+$22,330
Hawaii+$20,140
Alaska+$19,420
New Jersey+$14,480
Colorado+$12,580
Best states for Teachers
vs Police Officers
New York+$4,920
Vermont+$4,000
West Virginia+$3,550
South Carolina+$2,520
North Carolina+$2,000
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Police Officers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $72,280 for Police Officers — a difference of $8,600 per year or $717 per month.
The national median salary gap between Teachers and Police Officers is $8,600 per year. Police Officers earn 14% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $97,484.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Police Officers the highest median salary at $108,320 per year.
Salary is one factor — Police Officers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Elementary and Middle School Teachers and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Teachers earn approximately $31 per hour nationally and Police Officers earn approximately $35 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
