What officers employed by the Sussex County government are paid in base salary, and how long they have served, from the state's pension records. The file does not say which are sheriff's officers, corrections officers or investigators, so all are counted together.
Middle base salary, all ranks, as of June 30, 2026
$111,816
Half of the department's 70 officers earn more than this and half earn less. Overtime is not included.
Pay and experience at Sussex County law enforcement
Officers
70
In the police pension fund at this department, all ranks.
Middle half of salaries
$64,388 to $127,098
A quarter of officers earn less than the first figure and a quarter earn more than the second.
Lower and upper end
$57,177 to $137,970
One officer in ten earns less than the first figure, and one in ten more than the second.
Middle years of service
17
16 of 70 officers have under 5 years. 26 have 20 or more.
Middle salary: 7th of 12 in Sussex County
Sussex County law enforcement against the departments nearest to it.
30 of 70 officers joined the police pension fund after June 28, 2011, so they are in Tier 3.
Tier 3, joined after June 201130
Tier 2, joined 2010 to 20111
Tier 1, joined by May 201039
The tier is set by the date an officer joined the fund: Tier 1 on or before May 21, 2010, Tier 2 after May 21, 2010, and on or before June 28, 2011, Tier 3 after June 28, 2011.
What an officer pays in
10 percent of base salary.
Retiring after 25 years, Tier 3
60% of final compensation, plus 1% for each year over 25 up to 30 years. Maximum 65%.
Retiring after 25 years, Tier 1 and 2
65% of final compensation, plus 1% for each year over 25 up to 30 years. Maximum 70%.
How much does a Sussex County law enforcement officer make?
The middle officer at Sussex County law enforcement had a base salary of $111,816 as of June 30, 2026. The middle half of its 70 officers earned between $64,388 and $127,098. That counts every rank and leaves out overtime.
How many officers does Sussex County law enforcement have?
70 officers were in the police pension fund at this department as of June 30, 2026.
How experienced are Sussex County law enforcement officers?
The middle officer has 17 years of service. 16 of 70 have under 5 years and 26 have 20 or more.
What this is: the salary each officer earns toward a pension, as their employer reported it to the state for the four most recent quarters before June 30, 2026. It is base salary for every rank from new officer to chief. The state file has no job titles, no overtime and no total pay, so a department with many senior officers shows a higher middle salary.