Police Officers vs Lawyers salary

According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual pay for Police Officers is $70,750, compared to the average annual salary of $148,030 for Lawyers. As a result, Police Officers earn a significantly lower salary than Lawyers.

However, wages can vary depending on factors like location, experience, and the specific setting in which the employee works. For example, Lawyers who work in Washington DC (with salary averaging $198,820) may earn more than those who work in Wyoming ($92,410).

Police Officers vs Lawyers overview

Police Officers and Lawyers are crucial to the Federal, State, and Local Government industry. People are often interested in learning about the distinctions between these job titles, including the average salary for each of them.

Police Officer job description

Alternative names: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Police Officers maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

Police Officer education and experience

40% of Police Officers have obtained a High School Diploma, 21% hold a Post-Secondary Certificate, and 17% have an Associate's Degree. With regard to experience, about a half of Police Officer occupations do not require any previous experience. A smaller number of roles (23%) require a previous experience of 6 months to 1 year.

Police Officer average salary

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that in 2021, there were 665,380 Police Officers working in the United States, and on average, they earned $70,750 per year. The bottom 10 percent earned $40,190 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $102,530 or more. Compared to the previous year, the mean salary has grown by 1.1%.

Do Police Officers make good money?

The mean salary of Police Officers is 21% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260). However, they make 4% more than the mean earnings of the Federal, State, and Local Government industry ($67,800).

The mean salary of Police Officers is 21% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260).

Police Officers job growth

In 2021, there have been 10,480 more Police Officer job opportunities than the previous year across the nation, and that shows an increase of 1.6%. Over the past 3 years, job growth has averaged 0.2%.

Lawyer job description

Alternative names: Attorneys

Lawyers represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

Lawyer education and experience

The majority of Lawyers (68%) have obtained a First Professional Degree. However, among employees in this occupation, there are also some with a Doctoral Degree (31%). Regarding experience, more than half of Lawyer jobs require a 2 to 4 years of experience in the field. A smaller percentage of jobs (15%) require no previous experience.

Lawyer average salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 681,010 Lawyers employed in the United States in 2021, and they earned a mean annual income of $148,030. The bottom 10 percent earned $61,400 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $208,000 or more. Compared to the previous year, the average salary has declined by 0.6%.

Do Lawyers make good money?

Lawyers usually receive good salaries, as their average salary is 154% higher than the average wage in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they earn 62% more than the average wage of the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry ($91,150).

Lawyers usually receive good salaries, as their average salary is 154% higher than the average wage in the United States ($58,260).

Lawyers job growth

The employment rate for Lawyers has risen in the last two years. In 2021, there have been 22,890 more positions than the previous year nationwide, which marks a rise of 3.5%. Over the past 3 years, job growth has averaged 2%.

FAQ

Do Police Officers or Lawyers make more?

Lawyers make 109% more than Police Officers. The average annual salary for Police Officers is $70,750, while Lawyers earn $148,030 per year.

How long does it take to become a Police Officer vs Lawyer?

Police Officers generally only need a High School Diploma. On the other hand, Lawyers generally need a First Professional Degree. A First Professional Degree by itself most often takes between 3 years and 4 years to complete. However, if we consider that a Bachelor's Degree must be completed first, it might take around 8 years to complete the full education.

Is it harder to become a Police Officer vs Lawyer?

Becoming a Lawyer is harder than becoming a Police Officer, since an additional 8 years of education are necessary.