The starting salary for officers at the Arlington County Police Department is jumping to about $90,000, the highest in the D.C. area.
The pay bump, which goes into effect on July 1, 2026, represents a roughly $18,000 increase from the current starting salary of $72,013.50 for new officers, ACPD spokesperson Ashley Savage told ARLnow.
Additionally, the maximum starting salary for officers transferring from other agencies will hit six figures: $103,330, ACPD announced in a press release today (Wednesday). That’s on top of a hiring bonus of up to $25,000.
The change, part of hiring and retention incentives in a new ACPD collective bargaining agreement, puts ACPD well above D.C.’s relatively high-paying Metropolitan Police Department, which offers a starting salary of $75,433.
Salaries for current officers will automatically increase on July 1, as well.
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