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Updated 2026-10-02 · 58 of 268 Washington agencies publish starting pay

Highest paying police departments in Washington

Police officer salary in Washington by department, ranked by the starting pay each one states in a current posting. Median starting pay is $88,785, about $42.69/hr or $7,399/mo, above the national median of $70,081. 58 of these departments are hiring right now.

Median starting pay
$88,785
▲ 27% vs national $70,081
Highest starting pay
$110,435
Redmond PD
Lowest on file
$69,077
Spokane PD
Median top-step pay
$120,494
58 departments publish a top step

Every Washington department by starting pay

Highest first
DepartmentAreaStarting payTop payLateral startStatus
1. Redmond PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$110,435$127,891—Hiring · 3
2. Auburn PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$108,386$129,187—Hiring · 2
3. Everett PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$102,516$134,364—Hiring · 2
4. Lynnwood PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$102,294$128,877—Hiring · 3
5. Tukwila PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$101,064$123,192—Hiring · 2
6. Bothell PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$101,055$131,944—Hiring · 3
7. Mount Vernon PDMount Vernon Area$100,836$120,036—Hiring · 3
8. Bellevue PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$100,260$128,403—Hiring · 2
9. Kennewick PDTri-Cities WA$100,108$117,512—Hiring · 1
10. Tacoma PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$98,571$136,573$123,864Hiring · 2
11. Issaquah PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$98,150$129,159—Hiring · 2
12. Renton PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$97,692$128,088$103,788Hiring · 2
13. Richland PDTri-Cities WA$96,782$120,723—Hiring · 3
14. Kirkland PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$96,731$126,120—Hiring · 3
15. Lacey PDOlympia Area$96,538$125,852—Hiring · 2
16. Bonney Lake PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$96,288$118,968—Hiring · 2
17. Bremerton PDBremerton Area$96,236$138,121—Hiring · 3
18. King County SheriffSeattle-Tacoma Area$95,909$134,285—Hiring · 3
19. Seattle PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$95,098$154,248—Hiring · 4
20. Pasco PDTri-Cities WA$94,806$115,253—Hiring · 2
21. Lake Stevens PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$94,065$118,742—Hiring · 3
22. Longview PDLongview Area$93,612$121,104—Hiring · 2
23. Pierce County SheriffSeattle-Tacoma Area$93,517$123,760—Hiring · 4
24. Monroe PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$92,136$120,264—Hiring · 1
25. Port Orchard PDBremerton Area$90,813$128,107$98,613Hiring · 3
26. Arlington PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$90,624$114,108—Hiring · 3
27. Lake Forest Park PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$90,348$112,908—Hiring · 2
28. Lakewood PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$89,064$118,404—Hiring · 2
29. Grays Harbor County SheriffAberdeen Area$89,004$103,044—Hiring · 2
30. Sumner PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$88,566$121,389—Hiring · 3
31. Mercer Island PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$88,483$132,964—Hiring · 2
32. Federal Way PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$88,308$124,932—Hiring · 2
33. Lynden PDBellingham Area$87,348$113,653—Hiring · 1
34. San Juan County SheriffSan Juan County$87,150$111,285—Hiring · 3
35. Bainbridge Island PDBremerton Area$87,036$109,164—Hiring · 2
36. Thurston County SheriffOlympia Area$86,544$113,772$108,348Hiring · 9
37. Mill Creek PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$86,376$115,788—Hiring · 2
38. Whatcom County SheriffBellingham Area$85,509$167,952—Hiring · 3
39. Sequim PDPort Angeles Area$85,488$98,779—Hiring · 1
40. Marysville PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$85,068$121,416—Hiring · 2
41. Tumwater PDOlympia Area$84,612$122,148—Hiring · 3
42. Mason County SheriffShelton Area$84,312$102,312—Hiring · 4
43. Bellingham PDBellingham Area$84,264$122,832$95,472Hiring · 3
44. Washougal PDPortland Area$83,487$107,557—Hiring · 2
45. Anacortes PDMount Vernon Area$81,891$102,540—Hiring · 2
46. Clallam County SheriffPort Angeles Area$81,829$105,568—Hiring · 4
47. Shelton PDShelton Area$81,621$94,496—Hiring · 2
48. Mukilteo PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$81,544$109,296—Hiring · 3
49. Dupont PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$81,136$94,827$82,264Hiring · 1
50. Lewis County SheriffCentralia Area$80,964$102,972—Hiring · 2
51. Duvall PDSeattle-Tacoma Area$80,371$124,856—Hiring · 3
52. Yakima County SheriffYakima Area$76,020$105,924—Hiring · 2
53. Snohomish County SheriffSeattle-Tacoma Area$74,749$109,139$101,417Hiring · 7
54. Toppenish PDYakima Area$72,504$87,348—Hiring · 1
55. Island County SheriffOak Harbor Area$71,739$90,189—Hiring · 4
56. Washington State PatrolNot Specified$71,408$134,940—Hiring · 2
57. Oak Harbor PDOak Harbor Area$69,168$108,084—Hiring · 1
58. Spokane PDSpokane Area$69,077$132,964—Hiring · 3
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 Washington

AreaMedian starting payDepartments with payOpen jobs
Tri-Cities WA$96,78238
Seattle-Tacoma Area$94,0652975
Bremerton Area$90,81338
Olympia Area$86,544315
Bellingham Area$85,50937

Hiring bonuses in Washington

All Washington bonuses
  1. Bothell PDLaterals · $30,000 paid upon hire (first day on job). $20,000 paid upon successful completion of the probationary period.$50,000
  2. Federal Way PDLaterals · paid in four installments. The following installments: first upon meeting requirements for the Equivalency Academy (medical clearance and firearms qualification) of $5,000; second successful completion of the six month probationary period of $10,000; third at one year anniversary date of hire of $10,000; and final at eighteen month anniversary for $15,000.$40,000
  3. Mercer Island PDLaterals · Paid in three (3) installments: $5,000 on the first paycheck following hire, $17,000 following successful completion of the 12-month probationary period and $17,000 following successful completion six months of permanent employment status after the probationary period.$40,000
  4. Auburn PDLaterals$30,000
  5. Bellevue PDLaterals$30,000

Related

Police jobs in Washington (156)Lateral police jobs in WashingtonWashington departments that don't require college (49)All Washington departmentsStarting pay by state

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