Study Reveals Minnesota Is A Top State For Police Officers

Thanks to a strong support system and a robust training environment, Minnesota ranks among the best places in the country for police officers in 2026.

The approximately 800,000 law enforcement officers currently working in the United States earn an average of $77,270. That salary is typically combined with a generous benefits package that can include retirement contribution matches, tuition assistance and plentiful personal time off.

WalletHub set out to determine which if the 50 states is the best for police officers, using categories like Opportunity/Competition, Training Requirements and Job Hazards.

“Some states make protecting and serving the public in a law enforcement career more appealing than others. The best states for police officers offer competitive compensation, supplemented by solid training that helps minimize the chances of deadly violence between officers and civilians," said WalletHub's Chip Lupo. "State-level policies like ‘red flag laws’ or ‘Blue Alerts’ also contribute to a better environment for police.”

MINNESOTA IS A GREAT PLACE FOR POLICE OFFICERS 

Minnesota finished 7th overall in the survey, with a third place finish in Job Protections/Hazards, 18th place in Law Enforcement Training and 19th in Opportunity/Competition.

In the various sub-categories, Minnesota ranked 7th for percentage of homicide cases solved, 12th in state/local police protection expenses per capita, 17th in median income for law-enforcement officers (adjusted for cost of living) and 19th in violent crime rate.

THE BEST STATE FOR POLICE OFFICERS 

The best place to be a police officer, according to WalletHub, is California, followed by Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland and Washington, D.C..

The worst place for police officers is Alaska, per WalletHub.