PBSO has highest salaries among Florida sheriff's offices; more than Broward, Miami-Dade

Mike Diamond, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read
According to a database maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, pays the highest salaries among all sheriff's departments in Florida.
According to a database maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, pays the highest salaries among all sheriff's departments in Florida.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has submitted a proposed budget that calls for a 6.8% increase over the present fiscal year, pushing its spending plan to a record $826 million, county documents show.

PBSO said in its budget submission that “a competitive salary in today’s tight hiring market is pivotal to attracting the best candidates.”

According to the PBSO budget, the office ranks sixth in starting salaries for deputies in comparison to other law-enforcement agencies across the county.

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However, a review of a database maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), shows that PBSO deputies and correctional officers are compensated at higher rates than their peers at other agencies in the state.

While it is true that there are five other county police departments that offer higher starting salaries than PBSO, only three — Boca Raton, North Palm Beach and Jupiter — offer higher starting salaries for middle-management posts, such as for supervisors who supervise supervisors. There are 20 law-enforcement agencies in the county.

PBSO pays highest salaries among sheriff's departments in Florida

And when it comes to other sheriff’s departments in Florida, no other county sheriff in the state pays higher salaries than PBSO, according to the FDLE database maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

According to the FDLE database:

  • PBSO starting salary for a deputy is $59,292, 8% higher than Broward County, 11% higher than Miami-Dade County and 17% more than Martin County.

  • For first-line supervisors, PBSO pays a minimum salary of $92,208, 38% higher than Broward County, 50% higher than Miami-Dade County and 31% higher than Martin County.

  • For middle management, PBSO pays $120,120, 47% higher than Broward County, 38% higher than Miami-Dade County and 2% higher than Martin County.

The FDLE Florida Department of Law Enforcement data paints a similar picture for correctional officers working in Palm Beach County. They, too, are the highest-paid county correctional officers in the state.

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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: PBSO asking for major budget increase; how salaries compare in Florida