Seattle police starting salary tops most major U.S. cities
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Editor's note: This is part two of a three-part deep dive into Seattle's contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild. Go here to read part one, and here for part three.
Seattle police earn some of the highest starting salaries for officers in the country, an Axios analysis finds.
The big picture: Entry-level pay for Seattle police officers is nearly $118,000 — far exceeding starting pay in New York City and Los Angeles, larger cities with similar or higher costs of living.
By the numbers: Among the 20 most populous U.S. cities, only two offer higher starting pay for new officers than Seattle, Axios found when reviewing salary data from each city's police department.
- San Francisco pays an annual starting salary of $119,262, while San Jose pays $137,140.
Catch up quick: The most recent Seattle Police Officers Guild contract included retroactive raises of 6% for 2024 and 4% for 2025.
- Seattle officers received another 2.7% raise this year under the contract, which the City Council approved in December.
State of play: Seattle police officers' pay also ramps up quickly, reaching a minimum of $126,336 after six months.
- In New York City, it takes officers more than five years to reach that base salary, after starting at $60,884.
- In Chicago, officers start at $63,636 and see a roughly $27,000 pay increase after their first year.
What they're saying: Some Seattle City Council members argued the high pay awarded to SPD officers in their latest contract isn't matched by stronger accountability requirements.
- "This contract asks Seattle taxpayers to invest more in policing without requiring more accountability in return, and that's not a deal I can support," City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck said when voting against the contract in December.
Other city officials said the increased salaries are needed to help the city reach a goal of hiring more officers.
- The contract "bolsters the department's reputation as a competitive employer, which can empower us to build on this year's positive recruitment efforts," chief Shon Barnes said in a news release last fall.
- Seattle's high cost of living is an important factor to consider, department spokesperson Barbara DeLollis told Axios.
- "We believe in hiring officers who want to — and can afford to — live in our welcoming city," DeLollis said.
What's next: Seattle officers are due for another 3% to 4% pay bump in late December as the contract enters its final year.