Best State To Be a Police Officer 2025

California
61.9
Illinois
60.4
Connecticut
60.1
District of Columbia
56.5
Colorado
56.1
Maryland
54.8
Ohio
53.6
Minnesota
53.2
Washington
51.7
Massachusetts
51.3
Tennessee
51
New York
50.1
Texas
50.1
Rhode Island
49.1
Georgia
48.6
South Dakota
48
Maine
47.4
Pennsylvania
46
Oklahoma
45.8
Missouri
45.6
Utah
44.7
Virginia
44.6
Indiana
44.5
Wyoming
43.6
Michigan
43.6
North Carolina
43.6
Delaware
43.6
New Jersey
43.5
Nebraska
42.4
Iowa
42.4
New Hampshire
42.2
Florida
42
Arizona
41.8
Idaho
41.3
Vermont
39.6
North Dakota
39.5
New Mexico
39.4
Wisconsin
37.9
Kansas
37.8
South Carolina
37.7
Montana
36.7
Louisiana
34.9
Mississippi
34.6
Kentucky
34.5
Oregon
34.5
Alabama
33.7
West Virginia
33.3
Arkansas
32
Nevada
31.4
Hawaii
30.3
Alaska
26.2
State
Overall Score (Higher is Better)
Opportunity and Competition Rank
Training Requirements Rank
Job Hazards and Protection Rank
California Flag
California61.95212
Illinois Flag
Illinois60.4467
Connecticut Flag
Connecticut60.13614
District of Columbia Flag
District of Columbia56.51348
Colorado Flag
Colorado56.16826
Maryland Flag
Maryland54.84275
Ohio Flag
Ohio53.629525
Minnesota Flag
Minnesota53.215183
Washington Flag
Washington51.7141320
Massachusetts Flag
Massachusetts51.3261214
Tennessee Flag
Tennessee5112445
New York Flag
New York50.12402
Texas Flag
Texas50.131144
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode Island49.132218
Georgia Flag
Georgia48.6211032
South Dakota Flag
South Dakota4825935
Maine Flag
Maine47.4441710
Pennsylvania Flag
Pennsylvania46172623
Oklahoma Flag
Oklahoma45.881546
Missouri Flag
Missouri45.6201930
Utah Flag
Utah44.745256
Virginia Flag
Virginia44.6162821
Indiana Flag
Indiana44.5391431
Wyoming Flag
Wyoming43.6132239
Michigan Flag
Michigan43.6222333
North Carolina Flag
North Carolina43.6302719
Delaware Flag
Delaware43.6412415
New Jersey Flag
New Jersey43.5193911
Nebraska Flag
Nebraska42.494613
Iowa Flag
Iowa42.4283018
New Hampshire Flag
New Hampshire42.237441
Florida Flag
Florida4224429
Arizona Flag
Arizona41.8103228
Idaho Flag
Idaho41.3492029
Vermont Flag
Vermont39.6403816
North Dakota Flag
North Dakota39.5184917
New Mexico Flag
New Mexico39.471651
Wisconsin Flag
Wisconsin37.9483124
Kansas Flag
Kansas37.8333437
South Carolina Flag
South Carolina37.7273337
Montana Flag
Montana36.7313536
Louisiana Flag
Louisiana34.9114347
Mississippi Flag
Mississippi34.6353743
Kentucky Flag
Kentucky34.5462938
Oregon Flag
Oregon34.5504127
Alabama Flag
Alabama33.7234741
West Virginia Flag
West Virginia33.3344540
Arkansas Flag
Arkansas32433650
Nevada Flag
Nevada31.4384842
Hawaii Flag
Hawaii30.3475122
Alaska Flag
Alaska26.2515049
  • The term “best” can be subjective and open to interpretation. For example, does “best” mean highest pay, greatest level of safety, least stressful workday, or something else?
  • As such, different sources would likely evalutate states using slightly different criteria, which could result in a different ranking.
  • Criteria used in this particular “best” analysis include competitiveness of compensation, quality of training (particularly that which helps minimize the chances of deadly violence between officers and civilians), and the presence of state-level policies such as “red flag laws” or “Blue Alerts”, which contribute to a better environment for police.