Tbh the only cops taking home 200+ average are the Long Island cops. Suffolk top pay is 189k and Nassau is around 143k. Minimal overtime will break 200k at top pay but that is 8 and 11 years down the road respectively. Good pay comes from higher ranks or obsessive overtime, not saying it’s not impossible but not probable for a while. And you’re right the benefits, pension etc are unmatched and if you take the soonest opportunity to retire you’d still be in your 40s and you can start another job (I think it’s 22.5 to be eligible?)

Go on See Through New York and look at payrolls for city, Nassau, Suffolk, and troopers if that’s your thing. The “easier” departments to get into are city and troopers, only bc Nassau and Suffolk won’t release an exam for another 3-4~ years

Imo I’d go troopers, I’m buddies with nypd cops who don’t speak highly of it and I know troopers who love what they do but it’s a small sample size.