Minnesota Is A Top 10 State For Cops: Here’s What Set It Apart In 2025

MINNESOTA — With National Police Week set to begin May 11, a new WalletHub study ranks Minnesota among the best states in the nation for police officers.

The 2025 report evaluated all 50 states and Washington, D.C., using 30 indicators of "police-friendliness," from median law enforcement income to violent crime rates and local spending on police protection.

Minnesota ranked seventh overall, making it one of the top places to work in law enforcement, according to WalletHub.

Here’s how the state scored in key categories (with 1 being best and 51 worst):

• 17th – Median Income for Law-Enforcement Officers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
• 15th – Violent-Crime Rate
• 7th – Percentage of Homicide Cases Solved
• 12th – Police Protection Spending Per Capita
• 18th – Police Deaths Per 1,000 Officers

WalletHub included not only police officers but also sheriff’s patrol officers, detectives, and criminal investigators in its analysis. The median annual salary for police officers nationwide now tops $77,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

California topped the 2025 rankings, thanks to high police spending per capita, strong training protocols, and one of the nation's highest average starting salaries for officers. The state also mandates de-escalation training and maintains a Blue Alert system to help apprehend suspects in serious cases involving law enforcement.

"Some states make protecting and serving the public in a law enforcement career more appealing than others," said Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst.

"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."

Here’s a clean list of the top 10 and bottom 10 states to be a police officer, based on WalletHub’s 2025 rankings:

Top 10 States for Police Officers (2025)

1. California
2. Connecticut
3. Illinois
4. District of Columbia
5. Maryland
6. Colorado
7. Minnesota
8. Tennessee
9. Washington
10. Ohio

Bottom 10 States for Police Officers (2025)

42. Vermont
43. Montana
44. Oregon
45. West Virginia
46. Alabama
47. Louisiana
48. Arkansas
49. Nevada
50. Hawaii
51. Alaska

You can view the full rankings and methodology at WalletHub.com.