Updated 2026-10-02 · 31 of 464 Wisconsin agencies publish starting pay

Highest paying police departments in Wisconsin

Police officer salary in Wisconsin by department, ranked by the starting pay each one states in a current posting. Median starting pay is $69,160, about $33.25/hr or $5,763/mo, below the national median of $70,081. 31 of these departments are hiring right now.

Median starting pay

$69,160

▼ 1% vs national $70,081

Highest starting pay

$82,618

Menomonee Falls PD

Lowest on file

$50,256

Janesville PD

Median top-step pay

$89,149

31 departments publish a top step

Every Wisconsin 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. Menomonee Falls PD	Milwaukee Area	$82,618	$99,798	—	Hiring · 3
2. Stoughton PD	Madison Area	$76,378	$89,232	—	Hiring · 1
3. Rock County Sheriff	Janesville Area	$73,070	$88,213	—	Hiring · 1
4. Baraboo PD	Baraboo Area	$72,925	$82,576	—	Hiring · 1
5. Washburn County Sheriff	Washburn County	$72,696	$72,696	—	Hiring · 1
6. Appleton PD	Appleton Area	$72,592	$72,592	—	Hiring · 1
7. Waukesha PD	Milwaukee Area	$72,566	$102,709	—	Hiring · 1
8. Middleton PD	Madison Area	$72,550	$95,930	—	Hiring · 1
9. Green Bay PD	Green Bay Area	$72,010	$101,566	—	Hiring · 2
10. Whitefish Bay PD	Milwaukee Area	$71,169	$97,097	—	Hiring · 2
11. Racine PD	Racine Area	$70,928	$93,829	—	Hiring · 2
12. Sheboygan County Sheriff	Sheboygan Area	$70,928	$84,136	—	Hiring · 3
13. Dane County Sheriff	Madison Area	$70,720	$90,667	—	Hiring · 1
14. Polk County Sheriff	Polk County	$70,117	$70,117	—	Hiring · 2
15. Outagamie County Sheriff	Appleton Area	$69,680	$88,670	—	Hiring · 2
16. La Crosse PD	La Crosse Area	$69,160	$83,116	—	Hiring · 2
17. Onalaska PD	La Crosse Area	$68,786	$82,077	$72,405	Hiring · 1
18. Walworth County Sheriff	Whitewater Area	$68,224	$89,149	—	Hiring · 1
19. St. Francis PD	Milwaukee Area	$68,120	$94,349	—	Hiring · 1
20. Elkhorn PD	Whitewater Area	$67,596	$84,115	—	Hiring · 1
21. Greendale PD	Milwaukee Area	$67,585	$97,323	—	Hiring · 1
22. Wauwatosa PD	Milwaukee Area	$67,230	$95,948	—	Hiring · 1
23. Whitewater PD	Watertown Area	$66,866	$81,605	—	Hiring · 1
24. Manitowoc PD	Manitowoc Area	$66,708	$82,188	—	Hiring · 2
25. Cudahy PD	Milwaukee Area	$66,610	$92,412	—	Hiring · 1
26. Sheboygan PD	Sheboygan Area	$65,787	$87,171	—	Hiring · 1
27. Racine County Sheriff	Racine Area	$64,896	$89,565	—	Hiring · 1
28. South Milwaukee PD	Milwaukee Area	$61,230	$94,800	—	Hiring · 1
29. Verona PD	Madison Area	$60,993	$91,945	—	Hiring · 1
30. New London PD	Appleton Area	$51,894	$87,838	—	Hiring · 2
31. Janesville PD	Janesville Area	$50,256	$50,256	—	Hiring · 1

Starting pay by area in Wisconsin

Area	Median starting pay	Departments with pay	Open jobs
Madison Area	$71,635	4	10
Appleton Area	$69,680	3	5
Milwaukee Area	$67,852	8	14

Hiring bonuses in Wisconsin

All Wisconsin bonuses

Whitefish Bay PDLaterals · payable upon completion of the probationary period$6,000
Wauwatosa PDEntry and lateral · one-time payout paid upon hire$2,500

Police jobs in Wisconsin (67)Lateral police jobs in Wisconsin Wisconsin departments that don't require college (11)All Wisconsin departments Starting pay by state

Highest paying police departments in Wisconsin

Every Wisconsin department by starting pay

Starting pay by area in Wisconsin

Hiring bonuses in Wisconsin

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