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Police officer salary in California
- $76,300lowest 10% earn less
- $97,28025th percentile
- $118,880median
- $126,78075th percentile
- $153,190top 10% earn more
The median pay for a police officer in California was $118,880 a year in May 2025[1]. That was the highest median of any state or DC with a published figure[5].
How much do police officers make in California?
The median is the middle wage. Half of police officers in California earned more than $118,880 a year, or $57.15 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was $112,980 a year[7]. Across the US, the median for police officers was $76,210[3]. California's median was $42,670 (56.0%) higher[6]. For all jobs in California, the median was $58,240[8], so police officers had a median $60,640 higher[9].
The lowest-paid 10% of police officers in California earned less than $76,300 a year[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $153,190[2]. The middle half of pay ran from $97,280 at the 25th percentile to $126,780 at the 75th[2].
Among metro areas in or partly in California with a published median, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest at $136,140[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $132,000[11]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, with 24,720 jobs, had a median of $121,980[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and its wages do not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].
California vs US pay
Pay for police officers in California next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in California
Metro areas in California with the most jobs for police officers, and the median pay in each[11].
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11] | $121,980 | 24,720 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,000 | 7,990 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $101,870 | 6,010 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $111,460 | 5,420 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $110,400 | 4,950 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,140 | 2,590 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,770 | 1,560 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $119,640 | 1,330 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for police officers in the states that border California, highest first[14].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon[14] | $88,140 | 5,030 |
| Arizona | $78,880 | 12,010 |
| Nevada | $78,140 | 5,720 |
Job outlook and training
Across the US, jobs for police officers are projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a police officer make in California?
- The median was $118,880 a year in May 2025, and the average was $112,980[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $76,300 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $153,190[2].
- How much does a police officer make an hour in California?
- The median hourly wage was $57.15[1]. The 10th percentile was $36.69 an hour and the 90th percentile was $73.65[17].
- Which city in California pays police officers the most?
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $136,140 a year[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont was at $132,000[11].
- Is California a good state for police officers?
- California had the 1st highest median annual wage for police officers among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $118,880 was $42,670 higher than the US median of $76,210[1][6][3].
- What do you need to become a police officer in California?
- Across the US, the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not one for California.
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California was $118,880 per year and $57.15 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California: 10th percentile $76,300, 25th percentile $97,280, 75th percentile $126,780, 90th percentile $153,190. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the US as a whole was $76,210 per year and $36.64 per hour, with about 670,520 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 65,940 people worked as Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 1st highest median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers out of the 50 states and DC with a published median (the highest of all). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California ($118,880) was $42,670 (56.0%) higher than the US median ($76,210). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California was $112,980 per year and $54.32 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California was $60,640 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $136,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the US: 10th percentile $47,510, 25th percentile $59,290, 75th percentile $97,600, 90th percentile $115,120. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $88,140; Arizona $78,880; Nevada $78,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is projected to grow 3.5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 51,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California: 10th percentile $36.69, 25th percentile $46.77, 75th percentile $60.95, 90th percentile $73.65. BLS OEWS, May 2025