Prioritizing pay From the cover
Area entities have increased pay to remain competitive as the city of Houston approved a 36.5% raise over the next five years. Local police pay since 2020
Looking back
The status quo
In September 2024, Missouri City City Council approved a 6% annual pay raise for three years as a result of the city’s Meet and Confer agreement, which allows representatives of the city and the Police Officers Association to come together to discuss terms for officer pay and other incentives. “Before the significant salary increase, Missouri City experienced the loss of several officers to other agencies offering more competitive com- pensation, including school district police depart- ments,” Heard said. Meanwhile, Sugar Land City Council approved a revised compensation package in July 2024, which included $4.74 million toward creating a step pro- gram for public safety personnel. Step programs provide increments in an employee’s salary over time rather than the traditional merit-based pay. “To sustain our position as an employer of choice while simultaneously maintaining our com- mitment to fiscal responsibility and sustainability,
Missouri City Fort Bend County
Police pay is now at the forefront of local government discussions following an $832 million agreement by Houston City Council to raise police pay by 36.5% over the next five years. Additionally, Harris County commissioners approved an $81,000 pay increase for constables, and Montgomery County deputies’ starting pay increased to $70,928 for fiscal year 2025-26, with the goal of reaching a six-figure starting salary by FY 2028-29. Following the contract approvals, entities across the Greater Houston area have begun to look at police pay, including Fort Bend County commissioners who created the Blue Ribbon Committee—a committee tasked with reviewing the salaries and benefits of sheriff’s office employees, Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan said. “Residents should know [the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office] seeks to retain its workforce, particularly since many reside within Fort Bend County and call Fort Bend County home,” he said. Although Fort Bend County and Missouri City only fall slightly behind Houston’s entry-level pay, both entities are focusing on retaining and recruiting officers. “Competitive pay is one of the most critical tools for recruitment and retention, helping to ensure that Missouri City continues to offer a strong and stable public safety workforce,” said Jazton Heard, Missouri City assistant police chief.
Sugar Land: $75,605
$80K
$72,961
$70K
$55,580
$60K
$50K
$68,515
$40K
$47,689
$0
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
SOURCE: MISSOURI CITY, FORT BEND COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: SUGAR LAND DATA WAS NOT PROVIDED AHEAD OF PRESS TIME.
we proactively conduct market compensation analyses to forecast future funding needs and then share this data with the city’s budget office,” Sugar Land Police Captain Greg Suter said.
Also of note
assignment and certification pay, Heard said. However, Fagan said Fort Bend County’s benefits are “significantly lacking,” citing only training, professional development and promotions as additional opportunities. He said department officials would like to see added benefits including tuition reimbursement, shift and weekend differential, language pay, training officer pay, uniform allowance and special assignment pay.
In addition to pay, local departments offer incentives or other benefits as a strategy to recruit and retain officers. Sugar Land officials said key benefits include shift scheduling, opportunities for growth, ample training and the latest in technology. Meanwhile, Missouri City offers shift differential, educational reimbursement, take-home vehicles, physical fitness incentives and specialized
Area police pay comparisons
Fort Bend County
$68,515
Breaking it down
Katy
$70,414
By the numbers
Both Missouri City and Fort Bend County have experienced large vacancies over the past few years, with the county seeing 20% vacancies at its highest. However, Chief Public Safety Officer Mark Poland previously said the Sugar Land department didn’t see the same shortages other agencies did, estimat- ing the city hovered between a 7%-9% vacancy rate. Law enforcement nationwide saw 50% more res- ignations, a 20% spike in retirements and a 5% drop in the number of sworn officers from 2019 to 2022, according to the Police Executive Research Forum.
Fulshear
Missouri City 13 current police department vacancies 32 vacancies at its height
$71,166
Missouri City
$72,961
Fort Bend County 50 current department vacancies 150+ vacancies at its height
Houston
$75,000
Sugar Land
$75,605
SOURCE: CITY OF MISSOURI CITY, FORT BEND COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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