Police Officer Salary in Sioux City, IA — 2026
Police Officer salary data for Sioux City, IA — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Police Officer salary in Sioux City, IA is $78,940 per year ($6,578/month, $37.95/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metropolitan area, which covers Sioux City. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 84) would have estimated $64,016; the entry, senior and top tiers below are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Also known as: Patrol Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, Cop. The estimates on this page are used for these related job titles in Sioux City, IA, although actual pay can differ by title and scope.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051), Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Police Officer Take-Home Pay in Sioux City
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $78,940 |
| Federal Tax | -$8,537 |
| State Tax (3.0% eff.) | -$2,388 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$6,039 |
| Annual Take-Home | $61,976 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $5,165 |
Living Cost Comparison
Police Officer Requirements
Key Skills
Police Officer salary search terms in Sioux City
People comparing Police Officer pay in Sioux City, IA may use related job-title wording. Salario keeps the main estimate tied to the Police Officer role, then treats the terms below as comparison phrases that should be checked for licensing, employer type, seniority, and role scope.
| Comparison point | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Primary local answer | $78,940 median salary, $57,100-$104,400 modeled range, and $61,976 estimated take-home pay in Sioux City. |
| Title variants | Patrol Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, Cop can point to similar searches, but some variants may represent a narrower specialty or a higher/lower seniority band. |
| Offer comparison | Compare base salary, hourly equivalent, take-home pay, certifications, local cost of living, and whether the job is employee, contractor, public-sector, commission-heavy, or management-level. |
Sioux City Job Market Overview
Sioux City, Iowa has a population of 85,797 and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. The top industries are Food Processing, Healthcare, Manufacturing. The local job growth rate is 1.0%, and the average commute time is 18minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Police Officer in Sioux City
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Police Officer in Sioux City, IA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $57,100 | $27/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $68,020 | $33/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $78,940 | $38/hr | Mid-career, Police Academy |
| 75th | $104,400 | $50/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $133,600 | $64/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
P50 is the measured BLS OEWS May 2025 metro median; P10, P25, P75 and P90 are approximations, not measured local percentiles: they map to Salario's entry, senior and top tiers rescaled to the BLS median, with P25 interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Sioux City's Food Processing sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 12.0% salary growth for Police Officers over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Sioux City estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Police Officer can expect a 6.9% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 9 years in Sioux City. Negotiation, certifications (POST Certification, CPR), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Sioux City vs National Average
The national median Police Officer salary is $76,210 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers). In the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro, the BLS median of $78,940 is 3.6% above the national figure. Sioux City's cost of living index is 84 (lower than the national average of 100), so the wage premium and the cost premium do not necessarily cancel out.
For Police Officers, this means: rent typically consumes 15.5% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Sioux City costs about 2.5× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Sioux City.
Industry Context: Food Processing in Sioux City
Sioux City's economy is anchored by Food Processing, Healthcare, Manufacturing, with 85,797 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.2% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Police Officers can differ by sector, so compare Food Processing employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.0%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 3.0% growth outlook for Police Officer roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Police Officer salaries in Sioux City, IA:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS reports by metro area, so this is a regional figure, not a Sioux City-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($64,016 modeled) using the Sioux City index of 84 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rescaled to the BLS metro median rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), IA 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 3.8%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Sioux City QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Sioux City figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Police Officer salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Food Processing vs others in Sioux City), specific skill set (Law Enforcement, Report Writing, De-escalation), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Police Officer salary in Sioux City, IA?
How much does a Police Officer take home in Sioux City after taxes?
Is Sioux City a good city for Police Officers?
What skills are needed for a Police Officer in Sioux City?
How does Police Officer salary in Sioux City compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Police Officer in Sioux City?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Police Officer salary in Sioux City, IA?
The median Police Officer salary in Sioux City, IA is $78,940 per year: the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $57,100 and the senior estimate of $104,400 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a Police Officer take home in Sioux City after taxes?
A Police Officer earning the median salary of $78,940 in Sioux City, IA takes home approximately $61,976 per year ($5,165/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 21.5%.
Is Sioux City a good city for Police Officers?
Sioux City, IA has a cost of living index of 84 (below national average). Police Officers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.2% and top industries include Food Processing, Healthcare, Manufacturing.
What skills are needed for a Police Officer in Sioux City?
Key skills for Police Officers include Law Enforcement, Report Writing, De-escalation, Firearms, Community Policing. Typical education requirement is High School Diploma / Associate's. Valuable certifications include POST Certification, CPR, Defensive Tactics.
How does Police Officer salary in Sioux City compare to the national average?
The national median for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is $76,210 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro, the BLS median is $78,940, which is 3.6% higher than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 84) would have estimated $64,016.
What job titles are similar to Police Officer in Sioux City?
Related search terms for Police Officer in Sioux City, IA include Patrol Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, Cop. Use them as comparison terms, not always exact matches: licensing, employer type, seniority, public-sector rules, and whether the role is W-2, contractor, clinical, technical, management, or sales-focused can change the salary range.