BALTIMORE, MD—With National Police Week starting on May 12 and the median annual salary for a police officer reaching over $69,000, the personal-finance website WalletHub this week released its report on the Best & Worst States to Be a Police Officer in 2024 to help identify where this hazardous but rewarding career is the most worthwhile.

WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key metrics. The data set ranges from the median income for law-enforcement officers to police deaths per 1,000 officers to state and local spending on police.

Maryland came in at No. 6 on the list.  California was named 2024’s best state for police officers while Alaska was named the worst.

“Some states make protecting and serving the public in a law enforcement career more appealing than others,” said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. “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. State-level policies like ‘red flag laws’ or ‘Blue Alerts’ also contribute to a better environment for police.”

Life & Work for Cops in Maryland (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

• Overall Rank: 6th
• 16th – Median Income for Law-Enforcement Officers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
• 5th – State & Local Police-Protection Expenses per Capita
• 17th – Police Deaths per 1,000 Officers
• 9th – Motor Vehicle Fatalities Per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Driven
• 16th – Property Crime Rate

The full report can be viewed online here at WalletHub.

More in the video below.

Photo via Baltimore County Police Department