Illinois is Ranked the 3rd Best State to Be a Police Officer in 2025

There is no doubt that being a police officer is a tough job. In fact, I don’t know if there’s any other profession that receives as much scrutiny as law enforcement. Between viral videos, body cams, and social media debates, law enforcement is constantly in the spotlight.

But if, despite all that, you’re still thinking about a career in policing, Illinois is actually one of the best places in the country to do it!

ALSO READ: Top 10 Must-Visit Places in Illinois for Nature Lovers

According to a new study from WalletHub.com, Illinois ranks #3 overall in their list of the Best & Worst States to Be a Police Officer in 2025. The rankings were based on 30 key indicators, like salary, training requirements, job hazards, and more. WalletHub looked at everything from how much police officers earn to the resources available for safety and training.

One of the most impressive stats is that Illinois leads the nation in median annual wages for police and sheriff’s patrol officers, over $101,700, adjusted for cost of living. That’s a major win for officers who work hard to keep their communities safe. There’s also strong salary growth potential.

Finally, Illinois is one of the 21 states with “red flag” laws in place. These laws allow police to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a risk, potentially reducing dangerous encounters and helping protect both the public and the officers on duty.

Get our free mobile app

There is a lot more information in this study, and if you are the least bit interested in law enforcement, I would encourage you to spend a few minutes looking over the full report. If you're just kind of curious about how the rest of the country scored, you can just scroll over the map below to see the rankings.