verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Police Officer Salary in California

Median Annual in California
$118,880/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$57.15/hr
▲ 56% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in California

groups Employed in CA
65,940
public U.S. Median
$76,210
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$107,370 #1 of 51

Police Officer pay in California, explained

Police officers in California earn a median of $118,880 per year ($57.15 per hour), which is 56% above the national median of $76,210. Entry-level workers earn around $76,300, while the most experienced police officers reach about $153,190. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within California.

Is $118,880 good pay in California?

Adjusted for California's cost of living (which runs 111% of the U.S. average), that $118,880 is worth about $107,370 in national buying power — ranking California #1 for real pay (vs #1 on the sticker number).

See the full Police Officer Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Police Officer pay by experience in California

Entry level (10th pct)
$76,300
$36.68/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$118,880
$57.15/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$153,190
$73.65/hr

Police Officer pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs CA
California (here) $118,880 $107,370
Oregon $88,140 $85,274 +$30,740
Arizona $78,880 $78,350 +$40,000
Nevada $78,140 $78,156 +$40,740

Police Officer in California: FAQ

How much do police officers make in California?

Police officers in California earn a median of $118,880 per year ($57.15 per hour), compared with $76,210 nationally.

Does California pay police officers well?

At $118,880, California pays 56% above the national median for police officers. An estimated 65,940 work in the state.

Police Officer salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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