Dave, the number you cited for a Pittsburgh police officer is for a patrol officer, which is at the bottom of the pay scale. Most police officers do not stay at the position of patrol officer for their entire career. The average for a sergeant is almost $65,000. Police also accrue overtime and that can amount to a very large amount each year. Teachers can not make any overtime money unless they take on an extracurricular activities, which normally are poorly paid positions for the amount of hours and effort put into those jobs.