2026 Industry Benchmark Report
See how your agency stacks up against the nation.
FortemFI analyzed compensation, benefits, pension design, and financial health data from thousands of public sector agencies. Enter your work email below to get your free Agency Score and personalized benchmark report.
Compensation
Compare national averages of wages and cash earnings for law enforcement, fire, and EMS across agency size, region, and rank. Understanding where your agency stands helps attract and retain top talent.
Median base salary for patrol officers nationally — top-quartile agencies pay 18% above this.
Of total compensation comes from overtime pay in understaffed agencies, a leading driver of burnout.
Average total cash compensation for agencies with strong retention — vs. $71,000 for high-turnover peers.
Benefits
Employer-paid benefits are one of the most powerful retention levers available to public sector agencies. See how your health, dental, vision, and supplemental benefit packages compare to peers.
Of high-retention agencies cover 100% of employee health insurance premiums — vs. 51% nationally.
Average annual employer contribution to employee benefits beyond salary at top-performing agencies.
Officers report leaving their agency primarily due to inadequate benefits coverage.
Pension Design
Retirement structures vary widely across public safety agencies. Compare defined benefit plans, DROP programs, vesting periods, and multipliers to see how your pension design ranks nationally.
Of public safety agencies still offer a defined benefit pension — but only 43% include a DROP option.
Average benefit multiplier per year of service nationally — top agencies offer up to 3.0% for sworn staff.
Median vesting period across surveyed agencies — agencies with shorter vesting report better mid-career retention.
Financial Health
Financial stress directly impacts officer performance, absenteeism, and turnover. These benchmarks measure the affordability of employment and the financial wellness of your workforce relative to peers.
Of public safety employees report living paycheck to paycheck — up from 48% just three years ago.
Median emergency savings balance among surveyed officers — well below the recommended $5,000 threshold.
Average financial wellness score for public sector employees — agencies with wellness programs score 6.8.
Retirement Readiness
Many officers underestimate their retirement income or delay claiming benefits, leaving money on the table. These metrics estimate projected retirement outcomes across the public safety workforce.
Of officers are on track to replace 70% or more of their pre-retirement income — the recommended minimum.
Average actual retirement age for public safety officers — two years later than planned due to financial unreadiness.
Estimated gap in retirement savings for officers without supplemental investment accounts beyond their pension.
Workforce Sustainability
Recruitment and retention pressure is at an all-time high across public safety. These indicators help agencies benchmark their workforce health and identify risk before it becomes a crisis.
Average annual turnover rate across U.S. law enforcement agencies — double the rate seen a decade ago.
Average time-to-fill a sworn officer vacancy, accounting for testing, academy, and field training.
Median officer tenure at agencies with no financial wellness program — vs. 11.4 years at those that do.
Get your free Agency Score today.
See exactly where your agency ranks across all six benchmark categories and receive a personalized action plan to improve retention, readiness, and financial wellness.