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Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Employment & Job Outlook in Virginia (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

Virginia employs 19,970 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • Virginia employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
19,970
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
19.97
workers
Location Quotient
1.52
vs national avg
Average Salary
$70K
annual

High Demand in Virginia

The location quotient (LQ) of 1.52 indicates that Virginia has a higher-than-average concentration of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

Virginia vs National Average

Total Employed
19,970
National: 670,500
3.0% of national
Jobs per 1,000
19.97
National: 13.15
+51.9%
Average Salary
$70K
National: $75K
-6.2%

Top States by Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Employment

#1
65,940
65,940
employed
#2
63,100
63,100
employed
#3
53,470
53,470
employed
#4
43,630
43,630
employed
#5
29,180
29,180
employed
#6
26,510
26,510
employed
#7
23,430
23,430
employed
#8
22,370
22,370
employed
#9
22,170
22,170
employed
#10
21,780
21,780
employed

What Does a Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Earn in Virginia?

The average annual salary for a Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Virginia is $70,450. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers jobs are there in Virginia?

Virginia employs approximately 19,970 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks Virginia among the top states nationwide.

Is Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in demand in Virginia?

Yes — Virginia has above-average concentration of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers jobs (LQ: 1.52). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Virginia?

The average (mean) salary for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Virginia is $70450/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals?

The top state for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers employment is California with 65,940 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

Top Cities in Virginia

Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for Virginia's largest cities.

Top Colleges in Virginia

Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at Virginia's leading institutions.

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Employment in Other States

Compare Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers & Virginia Resources

Drill deeper into Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay, hiring, and education data for Virginia.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 333051) in Virginia.

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