Police Officer Salary After Taxes in Texas (2026)

Texas police officers benefit from a combination that is hard to beat: solid metro salaries near $76,000/year and no state income tax. That means the gap between gross pay and take-home is smaller than in almost any high-tax state. Here is the full breakdown.

For your exact numbers, use our Paycheck Calculator or the Texas paycheck calculator.

Texas Police Salary: Gross Pay Breakdown

Period	Amount
Annual	$76,000
Monthly	$6,333
Biweekly	$2,923
Weekly	$1,462
Hourly (2,080 hrs)	~$36.54

Department ranges: Dallas and Houston officers commonly earn $68,000 to $82,000, Austin runs slightly higher, and sergeants reach $90,000 to $110,000.

Federal Tax Breakdown (Single Filer, 2026)

Component	Amount
Gross salary	$76,000
Standard deduction	minus $15,450
Federal taxable income	$60,550

Federal income tax on $60,550:

Bracket	Income range	Rate	Tax
10%	$0 to $12,250	10%	$1,225
12%	$12,250 to $49,850	12%	$4,512
22%	$49,850 to $60,550	22%	$2,354
Total federal income tax			$8,091

FICA taxes:

Tax	Rate	Amount
Social Security	6.2% on $76,000	$4,712
Medicare	1.45% on $76,000	$1,102
Total FICA		$5,814

State Tax: None

Texas levies no state income tax and no local wage tax. There is nothing to deduct at the state level, which is the single biggest reason Texas officers out-earn peers in California or New York on a net basis.

Take-Home Pay Summary: Texas Police Officer (Before Pension)

Deduction	Amount
Federal income tax	$8,091
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)	$5,814
State income tax	$0
Total core deductions	$13,905
Annual take-home	$62,095
Monthly take-home	$5,175
Biweekly take-home	$2,388

Effective core tax rate: ~18.3%

The Real Number: After Municipal Pension

Most Texas officers contribute to a municipal or statewide police pension, typically 6% to 7% of salary. Many Texas police do not pay Social Security and rely on the pension instead, though the figures above assume standard FICA; confirm your department.

Deduction	Amount
Pension contribution (~7%)	minus $5,320
Core taxes	$13,905
Estimated real take-home	~$56,775/year
Monthly	~$4,731

These pensions are defined-benefit plans, so the contribution buys guaranteed retirement income rather than disappearing as tax.

Texas vs. Other States: Police Take-Home Comparison

State	Avg Salary	Take-Home (core)	Monthly	State Tax
Texas	$76,000	~$62,095	~$5,175	none
California	$105,000	~$78,031	~$6,503	~9.3% + SDI
New York	$92,000	~$69,746	~$5,812	progressive
Florida	$66,000	~$55,060	~$4,588	none

On a dollar-for-dollar basis, a Texas officer keeps about 82% of gross before pension, versus roughly 74% in California, even though California pays a higher headline salary.

Overtime and Certification Pay

Texas departments lean heavily on overtime and add certification or education incentive pay. An officer in the 22% federal bracket who works 12 hours/month of overtime at about $55/hour earns roughly $7,900 gross per year, netting close to $6,100 since there is no state tax to subtract.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Texas police officers make per hour?

At $76,000/year over 2,080 hours, gross pay is about $36.54/hour, or roughly $29.85/hour net after federal tax and FICA, before pension.

Is $76,000 a good police salary in Texas?

Yes for most of the state. With no income tax and moderate housing costs outside the largest metros, $76,000 supports a comfortable lifestyle. In Austin, where housing is pricier, it goes less far, though specialty and overtime pay typically close the gap.

Do Texas police officers get Social Security?

Some do and some do not, depending on the department’s pension arrangement. Agencies that opted out of Social Security skip the 6.2% withholding but provide a pension as the sole retirement system.

See Also

• Police officer salary after taxes (all states)
• Police officer salary after taxes
• Police officer salary in California
• Monthly pay after taxes
• Texas paycheck calculator