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Sergeant vs Staff Sergeant

In 2025, the median salary for Staff Sergeant was $7,235 (4.5%) higher than for Sergeant: $167,529 against $160,294. Sergeant had 1,597 people on the list, Staff Sergeant 951.

At a glance

SergeantStaff Sergeant
People on the 2025 list1,597951
Median salary$160,294$167,529
Middle half$150,295–$174,969$146,655–$186,339
Highest salary$371,958$400,751
Total salaries$265,235,617$161,021,450
People, change+8.5% vs 2024+8.1% vs 2024
Median, change+6.8% vs 2024+8.6% vs 2024

Median salary by year

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YearSergeantStaff Sergeant
1999$103,384
2001$106,478$105,339
2002$106,217$105,463
2003$104,909$105,867
2004$106,709$103,727
2005$106,376$105,756
2006$105,531$104,508
2007$105,675$105,016
2008$105,515$105,175
2009$105,528$107,714
2010$106,860$114,085
2011$105,890$114,378
2012$109,415$119,834
2013$112,689$122,501
2014$115,772$125,860
2015$119,073$131,778
2016$120,132$131,637
2017$123,495$134,564
2018$124,932$136,770
2019$128,492$140,475
2020$130,925$143,791
2021$133,058$146,466
2022$140,934$155,599
2023$143,475$156,372
2024$150,114$154,325
2025$160,294$167,529

People on the list by year

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YearSergeantStaff Sergeant
19997
2001116
20022311
20034920
20045240
20059772
2006213194
2007260274
2008424405
2009681469
20101,105493
20111,221514
20121,431536
20131,439512
20141,564539
20151,576557
20161,848572
20171,520577
20181,852561
20191,798554
20201,828543
20211,735550
20221,764557
20231,459558
20241,472880
20251,597951

Highest paid in 2025

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Questions and answers

Which pays more, Sergeant or Staff Sergeant?

By median salary in 2025, Staff Sergeant: $167,529 against $160,294.

Which has more people on the list?

Sergeant: 1,597 against 951 in 2025.

How has the gap changed since 2001?

In 2001 the median for Sergeant was $106,478 and for Staff Sergeant $105,339, a gap of $1,139; in 2025 the gap was $7,235.

What do these figures cover?

Only people paid $100,000 or more are on the list, so medians and counts describe them, not everyone with each title.

What does “salary paid” include?

What the employer paid in the calendar year, so it can include overtime, retroactive pay, vacation payouts, severance or a partial year. Taxable benefits are listed separately. How the lists work