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Updated 2026-10-09 · 33 of 279 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 $57,000, about $27.40/hr or $4,750/mo, below the national median of $69,347. 33 of these departments are hiring right now.

Median starting pay
$57,000
▼ 18% vs national $69,347
Highest starting pay
$90,012
Arlington County PD
Lowest on file
$31,429
Lynchburg PD
Median top-step pay
$85,032
33 departments publish a top step

Every Virginia department by starting pay

Highest first
DepartmentAreaStarting payTop payLateral startStatus
1. Arlington County PDWashington DC Area$90,012$90,012—Hiring · 1
2. Alexandria PDWashington DC Area$75,000$75,000—Hiring · 1
3. Loudoun County SheriffWashington DC Area$70,955$125,533—Hiring · 3
4. Prince William County PDWashington DC Area$66,596$133,652—Hiring · 3
5. Fairfax City PDWashington DC Area$65,756$110,489—Hiring · 3
6. Hanover County SheriffRichmond Area$65,245$89,688—Hiring · 6
7. Fairfax County PDWashington DC Area$64,997$132,956—Hiring · 4
8. York County SheriffHampton Roads$64,760$64,760—Hiring · 2
9. Purcellville PDWashington DC Area$64,459$83,803—Hiring · 1
10. Richmond PDRichmond Area$63,360$115,211—Hiring · 2
11. Spotsylvania County SheriffWashington DC Area$60,763$103,298—Hiring · 1
12. Chesterfield County PDRichmond Area$60,147$90,771—Hiring · 6
13. Culpeper County SheriffWashington DC Area$60,000$74,461—Hiring · 2
14. Prince George County PDRichmond Area$59,016$90,570—Hiring · 2
15. Hopewell PDRichmond Area$58,334$68,646—Hiring · 2
16. Norfolk PDHampton Roads$58,285$97,199—Hiring · 3
17. Front Royal PDWashington DC Area$57,000$70,000—Hiring · 1
18. Harrisonburg PDHarrisonburg Area$56,992$61,984—Hiring · 3
19. Charlottesville PDCharlottesville Area$56,680$102,378—Hiring · 3
20. Colonial Heights PDRichmond Area$56,585$66,624—Hiring · 2
21. Portsmouth PDHampton Roads$56,430$77,875—Hiring · 3
22. Stafford County SheriffWashington DC Area$55,411$112,021—Hiring · 6
23. Suffolk PDHampton Roads$55,304$93,357—Hiring · 2
24. West Point PDRichmond Area$54,860$85,032—Hiring · 1
25. Blacksburg PDBlacksburg Area$54,850$60,559—Hiring · 1
26. King William County SheriffRichmond Area$54,500$69,400—Hiring · 1
27. Winchester PDWinchester Area$54,371$66,310—Hiring · 2
28. Isle of Wight County SheriffHampton Roads$54,073$75,229—Hiring · 1
29. Warrenton PDWashington DC Area$51,085$81,735—Hiring · 1
30. Roanoke PDRoanoke Area$49,391$87,422—Hiring · 5
31. Hampton PDHampton Roads$47,258$87,217—Hiring · 8
32. Virginia Beach PDHampton Roads$43,680$45,760—Hiring · 2
33. Lynchburg PDLynchburg Area$31,429$79,186$50,502Hiring · 7
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 Virginia

AreaMedian starting payDepartments with payOpen jobs
Washington DC Area$64,9971328
Richmond Area$58,675822
Hampton Roads$55,304721

Hiring bonuses in Virginia

All Virginia bonuses
  1. Hopewell PDNew officers · one-time hiring incentive$20,000
  2. Fairfax County PDNew officers$15,000
  3. Prince William County PDNew officers · paid in two installments$10,000
  4. 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
  5. Suffolk PDLaterals · successfully completes their one-year probationary period$10,000

Related

Police jobs in Virginia (96)Lateral police jobs in VirginiaVirginia departments that don't require college (27)All Virginia departmentsStarting pay by state

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