Updated 2026-10-02 · 21 of 833 Ohio agencies publish starting pay

Highest paying police departments in Ohio

Police officer salary in Ohio by department, ranked by the starting pay each one states in a current posting. Median starting pay is $72,946, about $35.07/hr or $6,079/mo, above the national median of $70,081. 21 of these departments are hiring right now.

Median starting pay

$72,946

▲ 4% vs national $70,081

Highest starting pay

$82,014

Cleveland Heights PD

Lowest on file

$55,203

Fairborn PD

Median top-step pay

$95,347

21 departments publish a top step

Every Ohio department by starting pay

Highest first

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.
Department	Area	Starting pay	Top pay	Lateral start	Status
1. Cleveland Heights PD	Greater Cleveland	$82,014	$93,051	$82,014	Hiring · 1
2. Kettering PD	Dayton Area	$81,598	$110,198	—	Hiring · 1
3. Monroe PD	Greater Cincinnati	$77,939	$94,295	—	Hiring · 1
4. Columbus PD	Columbus Area	$77,938	$122,803	—	Hiring · 2
5. Forest Park PD	Greater Cincinnati	$76,993	$93,561	—	Hiring · 1
6. Miamisburg PD	Dayton Area	$76,400	$89,627	—	Hiring · 1
7. Whitehall PD	Columbus Area	$75,962	$111,488	—	Hiring · 3
8. Delaware PD	Columbus Area	$75,254	$104,811	—	Hiring · 1
9. Reynoldsburg PD	Columbus Area	$74,277	$117,021	—	Hiring · 1
10. New Albany PD	Columbus Area	$73,633	$115,934	—	Hiring · 1
11. Gahanna PD	Columbus Area	$72,946	$95,347	—	Hiring · 1
12. Delaware County Sheriff	Columbus Area	$72,842	$100,131	—	Hiring · 2
13. Bexley PD	Columbus Area	$71,407	$119,279	—	Hiring · 1
14. Montgomery County Sheriff	Dayton Area	$69,430	$97,198	—	Hiring · 1
15. Grandview Heights PD	Columbus Area	$69,036	$118,441	—	Hiring · 2
16. Hamilton PD	Greater Cincinnati	$68,598	$93,704	—	Hiring · 1
17. Strongsville PD	Greater Cleveland	$68,453	$91,894	—	Hiring · 2
18. Springfield PD	Springfield Area	$68,146	$85,327	—	Hiring · 1
19. Cleveland PD	Greater Cleveland	$66,467	$92,212	—	Hiring · 1
20. Ashville PD	Columbus Area	$55,536	$70,138	—	Hiring · 1
21. Fairborn PD	Dayton Area	$55,203	$91,499	—	Hiring · 2

Starting pay by area in Ohio

Area	Median starting pay	Departments with pay	Open jobs
Greater Cincinnati	$76,993	3	3
Columbus Area	$73,290	10	15
Dayton Area	$72,915	4	5
Greater Cleveland	$68,453	3	6

Hiring bonuses in Ohio

All Ohio bonuses

Cleveland Heights PDLaterals · $2,500.00 to be paid at time of hire, $2,500.00 to be paid upon 1 year of employment.$5,000
Cleveland PDNew officers · $1,000 upon starting academy, $1,000 upon graduating academy, $3,000 upon completing field training$5,000
Miamisburg PDLaterals · $2,500 would be paid to a qualified officer after they complete their probationary period, and an additional $2,500 would be paid to the officer after they complete two years of continuous service with our department$5,000

Police jobs in Ohio (30)Lateral police jobs in Ohio Ohio departments that don't require college (12)All Ohio departments Starting pay by state

Highest paying police departments in Ohio

Every Ohio department by starting pay

Starting pay by area in Ohio

Hiring bonuses in Ohio

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