Updated 2026-10-02 · 29 of 280 Virginia agencies publish starting pay

Highest paying police departments in Virginia

Police officer salary in Virginia by department, ranked by the starting pay each one states in a current posting. Median starting pay is $56,992, about $27.40/hr or $4,749/mo, below the national median of $70,081. 29 of these departments are hiring right now.

Median starting pay

$56,992

▼ 19% vs national $70,081

Highest starting pay

$75,000

Alexandria PD

Lowest on file

$47,258

Hampton PD

Median top-step pay

$85,032

29 departments publish a top step

Every Virginia 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. Alexandria PD	Washington DC Area	$75,000	$75,000	—	Hiring · 1
2. Loudoun County Sheriff	Washington DC Area	$70,955	$125,533	—	Hiring · 3
3. Prince William County PD	Washington DC Area	$66,596	$133,652	—	Hiring · 3
4. Fairfax City PD	Washington DC Area	$65,756	$110,489	—	Hiring · 3
5. Hanover County Sheriff	Richmond Area	$65,245	$89,688	—	Hiring · 5
6. Fairfax County PD	Washington DC Area	$64,997	$132,956	—	Hiring · 4
7. York County Sheriff	Hampton Roads	$64,760	$64,760	—	Hiring · 2
8. Purcellville PD	Washington DC Area	$64,459	$83,803	—	Hiring · 1
9. Richmond PD	Richmond Area	$62,982	$115,211	—	Hiring · 2
10. Spotsylvania County Sheriff	Washington DC Area	$60,763	$103,298	—	Hiring · 1
11. Culpeper County Sheriff	Washington DC Area	$60,000	$74,461	—	Hiring · 2
12. Prince George County PD	Richmond Area	$58,432	$90,570	—	Hiring · 2
13. Hopewell PD	Richmond Area	$58,334	$68,646	—	Hiring · 2
14. Front Royal PD	Washington DC Area	$57,000	$70,000	—	Hiring · 1
15. Harrisonburg PD	Harrisonburg Area	$56,992	$61,984	—	Hiring · 1
16. Charlottesville PD	Charlottesville Area	$56,680	$102,378	—	Hiring · 3
17. Colonial Heights PD	Richmond Area	$56,585	$66,624	—	Hiring · 2
18. Portsmouth PD	Hampton Roads	$56,430	$77,875	—	Hiring · 3
19. Suffolk PD	Hampton Roads	$55,304	$93,357	—	Hiring · 2
20. West Point PD	Richmond Area	$54,860	$85,032	—	Hiring · 1
21. Blacksburg PD	Blacksburg Area	$54,850	$60,559	—	Hiring · 1
22. Stafford County Sheriff	Washington DC Area	$54,746	$111,717	—	Hiring · 5
23. King William County Sheriff	Richmond Area	$54,500	$69,400	—	Hiring · 1
24. Chesterfield County PD	Richmond Area	$53,214	$90,771	—	Hiring · 6
25. Winchester PD	Winchester Area	$52,267	$65,334	—	Hiring · 3
26. Warrenton PD	Washington DC Area	$51,085	$81,735	—	Hiring · 1
27. Lynchburg PD	Lynchburg Area	$50,502	$79,186	$50,502	Hiring · 6
28. Roanoke PD	Roanoke Area	$49,391	$87,422	—	Hiring · 8
29. Hampton PD	Hampton Roads	$47,258	$87,217	—	Hiring · 7

Starting pay by area in Virginia

Area	Median starting pay	Departments with pay	Open jobs
Washington DC Area	$64,728	12	26
Richmond Area	$57,460	8	21
Hampton Roads	$55,867	4	14

Hiring bonuses in Virginia

All Virginia bonuses

Hopewell PDNew officers · one-time hiring incentive$20,000
Fairfax County PDNew officers$15,000
Prince William County PDNew officers · paid in two installments$10,000
Harrisonburg PDNew officers · $5,000 at Date of Hire and $5,000 upon Completion of Initial Period of Employment (12 Months for Certified Police Officers)$10,000
Suffolk PDLaterals · successfully completes their one-year probationary period$10,000

Police jobs in Virginia (87)Lateral police jobs in Virginia Virginia departments that don't require college (26)All Virginia departments Starting pay by state

Highest paying police departments in Virginia

Every Virginia department by starting pay

Starting pay by area in Virginia

Hiring bonuses in Virginia

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