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.
The status quo
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.
The seven-person committee will review sheriff department salaries in comparison to other area departments and will consist of members from several departments, including:
- Human resources, chair
- Sheriff’s office
- Budget and finance
- Auditor’s office
- Risk management
- Commissioners Court
- Board of judges
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.
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 compensation, including school district police departments,” Heard said.
Meanwhile, Sugar Land City Council approved a revised compensation package in July 2024, which included $4.74 million toward creating a step program 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 commitment to fiscal responsibility and sustainability, 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.
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 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.
Breaking it down
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, estimating the city hovered between a 7%-9% vacancy rate.
Law enforcement nationwide saw 50% more resignations, 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.
In their own words
- “Leadership places strong emphasis on a positive work culture, fairness, respect and overall employee wellbeing factors that extend beyond salary to support retention.” —Jazton Heard, Missouri City assistant police chief
- “[Sheriff’s Office employees] truly care about their neighbors and are committed to keeping Fort Bend County safe. We would like to do what’s in their interest, and ours to keep them here where they live, work and play.” —Eric Fagan, Fort Bend County sheriff
Missouri City officers are scheduled to receive salary increases in FY 2026-27 as part of the department’s 2024 Meet and Confer agreement. The three-year agreement is set to expire Sept. 30, 2027, with renegotiation for a future contract beginning no later than May 15, 2027.
“At present, Missouri City’s compensation remains competitive, and there is no significant concern about officers leaving solely due to pay,” Heard said. “However, because salaries are rising across the region, MCPD remains vigilant and committed to staying aligned with market trends.”
Additionally, the sheriff’s office is set to open its regional training complex in spring 2026, Fagan said. The complex aims to bring specialized training and professional development courses, which officials hope will attract more recruits.
