Police Officers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$76,300
- 25th Percentile — Junior$97,280
- 50th Percentile — Median$118,880
- 75th Percentile — Senior$126,780
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$153,190
Half of Police Officers in California earn more than $118,880. The top 10% make $153,190 or more, while entry-level workers start around $76,300.
Police Officers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 51 states for Police Officers pay, at $112,980 per year (42.7% above the U.S. average of $79,200).
- 65,940 people work as Police Officers in California — 9.8% of all U.S. Police Officers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.84: Police Officers jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $76,300; the top 10% earn over $153,190.
- Hourly equivalent: $54.32 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among public safety jobs in California, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($163,210).
Police Officers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Police Officers here earn $112,980 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $112,980 is roughly equivalent to $79,563 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($104,140), Alaska ($101,770), New Jersey ($93,700) are the closest alternatives for Police Officers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $163,210/yr California +44.5% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $151,620/yr California +34.2% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $121,530/yr California +7.6% vs this role
- Firefighters $95,090/yr California 15.8% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $92,410/yr California 18.2% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $67,040/yr California 40.7% vs this role
- Security Guards $44,920/yr California 60.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Police Officers salary in California?
The average Police Officers salary in California is $112,980 per year (median $118,880), which is 42.7% above the national average of $79,200.
How does California rank for Police Officers pay?
California ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($112,980/yr).
How much do entry-level Police Officers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Police Officers in California earn about $76,300 per year and the 25th percentile is $97,280.
How much do Police Officers make per hour in California?
About $54.32 per hour, based on the $112,980 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Police Officers work in California?
BLS counts 65,940 Police Officers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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