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Is GA a good or bad state to be a police officer in 2026? Here’s what new study says

Which states are the best and worst for police officers?
Which states are the best and worst for police officers? Canva

Being a police officer today is a hard job and oftentimes, it’s filled with stress.

However, where you live can also impact if being a police officer is any easier or harder.

“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.”

WalletHub recently ranked each state by which ones are the best and worst for cops by using data about average salary, training hours, police deaths and homicides. Each state was then scored and ranked with other states.

So, is Georgia high or low on the ranking? Here’s what to know:

Georgia ranked 12th best state for police officers

According to the study, Georgia ranked 12th overall, with a score of 47.87. Georgia ranked high in the category of law enforcement training, but had low scores in opportunity and competition. Georgia also ranked somewhat low in the category of job hazards and protections.

Let’s see how other states ranked:

Which states are the best for police officers?

  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia

Which states are the worst for police officers?

  • Alaska
  • Hawaii
  • Nevada
  • Arkansas
  • Louisiana

What do you think of this study? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com

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Chelsea Madden
The Telegraph
Chelsea is a service journalism reporter who began working for McClatchy in 2022. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth. She attended Wesleyan College for undergrad and a few years after that, went to SCAD for an MFA in writing. Outside of work, Chelsea likes to watch Netflix, read books in the thriller genre and chase her toddler around.
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