Updated 2026-10-02 · 44 of 246 Colorado agencies publish starting pay

Highest paying police departments in Colorado

Police officer salary in Colorado by department, ranked by the starting pay each one states in a current posting. Median starting pay is $75,804, about $36.44/hr or $6,317/mo, above the national median of $70,081. 44 of these departments are hiring right now.

Median starting pay
$75,804
▲ 8% vs national $70,081
Highest starting pay
$100,651
Firestone PD
Lowest on file
$49,420
Archuleta County Sheriff
Median top-step pay
$106,246
41 departments publish a top step

Every Colorado department by starting pay

Highest first
DepartmentAreaStarting payTop payLateral startStatus
1. Firestone PDGreeley Area$100,651$111,842—Hiring · 1
2. Frederick PDGreeley Area$95,189$116,858—Hiring · 1
3. Loveland PDFort Collins Area$93,696$116,183—Hiring · 2
4. Clear Creek County SheriffDenver Metro$90,903$108,542—Hiring · 1
5. Longmont PDBoulder Area$90,804$129,444—Hiring · 1
6. Parker PDDenver Metro$89,898$117,957$93,434Hiring · 2
7. Lakewood PDDenver Metro$89,482$123,192$104,639Hiring · 3
8. Broomfield PDDenver Metro$88,920$123,718—Hiring · 1
9. Golden PDDenver Metro$85,322$116,293$91,395Hiring · 1
10. Vail PDEdwards Area$85,280$114,920—Hiring · 1
11. Hudson PDGreeley Area$84,102$95,000—Hiring · 1
12. Lone Tree PDDenver Metro$83,949$107,997—Hiring · 1
13. Northglenn PDDenver Metro$83,328$109,225—Hiring · 1
14. Grand Junction PDGrand Junction Area$82,555$114,379$82,555Hiring · 1
15. Commerce City PDDenver Metro$82,327$121,052$115,798Hiring · 2
16. Grand County SheriffGrand County$81,012$99,412—Hiring · 2
17. Westminster PDDenver Metro$80,746$119,621$92,706Hiring · 1
18. Adams County SheriffDenver Metro$79,122$110,771—Hiring · 3
19. Estes Park PDFort Collins Area$77,854$114,998—Hiring · 1
20. Mountain View PDDenver Metro$77,293——Hiring · 2
21. Federal Heights PDDenver Metro$77,043$110,473—Hiring · 1
22. Pueblo PDPueblo Area$76,373$96,647—Hiring · 2
23. Englewood PDDenver Metro$75,234$75,234—Hiring · 1
24. Gunnison County SheriffGunnison County$74,207$104,965—Hiring · 2
25. Windsor PDFort Collins Area$73,507$106,246—Hiring · 2
26. Sheridan PDDenver Metro$73,000$109,559—Hiring · 2
27. Montrose PDMontrose Area$72,800$99,500—Hiring · 2
28. Elbert County SheriffDenver Metro$72,800$105,331—Hiring · 2
29. Rifle PDRifle Area$70,720$79,040—Hiring · 1
30. Brush PDFort Morgan Area$70,651$102,466—Hiring · 1
31. Manitou Springs PDColorado Springs Area$70,300$70,300—Hiring · 1
32. Crested Butte PDGunnison County$69,659$81,952—Hiring · 1
33. Jefferson County SheriffDenver Metro$68,640$68,640—Hiring · 1
34. Evans PDGreeley Area$68,215$115,400—Hiring · 2
35. Bayfield PDDurango Area$66,997$86,871—Hiring · 1
36. Durango PDDurango Area$66,435$66,435—Hiring · 1
37. Colorado Springs PDColorado Springs Area$66,290$89,336—Hiring · 2
38. Nunn PDGreeley Area$65,000——Hiring · 1
39. Hotchkiss PDDelta County$64,480$83,200—Hiring · 1
40. Meeker PDRio Blanco County$60,000$60,000—Hiring · 2
41. Florence PDCañon City Area$54,080$73,070—Hiring · 1
42. Park County SheriffDenver Metro$53,000$70,328—Hiring · 3
43. Kiowa County SheriffKiowa County$51,709——Hiring · 1
44. Archuleta County SheriffArchuleta County$49,420$91,520—Hiring · 2
Starting pay is the lowest advertised full-time figure for a sworn officer in each department's current posting, annualized. Top pay and lateral start appear where the posting states them. Click a department for the quoted source line and verification date.

Starting pay by area in Colorado

AreaMedian starting payDepartments with payOpen jobs
Greeley Area$84,10256
Denver Metro$80,7461728
Fort Collins Area$77,85435

Hiring bonuses in Colorado

All Colorado bonuses
  1. Grand Junction PDLaterals · awarded upon completion of the Field Training Officer Program with a signed three (3) year commitment to the Grand Junction Police Department$10,000
  2. Westminster PDEntry and lateral · $5,000 upon successful completion of field training and $5,000 upon successful completion of their one-year probationary period$10,000
  3. Commerce City PDNew officers$7,500
  4. Northglenn PDNew officers · upon successful completion of the FTO program. An additional $5,000 cash award is available upon the successful completion of probationary period (12 months)$5,000
  5. Durango PDLaterals$3,000

Related

Police jobs in Colorado (69)Lateral police jobs in ColoradoColorado departments that don't require college (13)All Colorado departmentsStarting pay by state

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