Police Officer Salary

Los Angeles vs Oxnard: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Los Angeles, CA and Oxnard, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Los Angeles, CA
$125,713
$60.43/hr
Oxnard, CA
$123,301
$59.28/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLos Angeles, CAOxnard, CA
Median Salary$125,713$123,301
Hourly Rate$60.43$59.28
Entry Level (P10)$81,283$80,758
25th Percentile$101,184$100,855
75th Percentile$129,938$125,321
Top Earner (P90)$131,793$132,515
Total Employed24,7201,330
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Los Angeles ($125,713) and Oxnard ($123,301) police officer salaries.Los AngelesOxnardMedian Salary$125,713$123,301Entry Level (P10)$81,283$80,758Top Earner (P90)$131,793$132,515US Median $78,542

Verdict

Los Angeles, CA offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Oxnard.

The salary gap between Los Angeles and Oxnard is $2,412 (1.96%). Los Angeles's median is +60.06% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Los Angeles spans $50,510,Oxnard spans $51,757. Oxnard has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Los Angeles
P10 (Entry)$81,283
P25$101,184
Median$125,713
P75$129,938
P90 (Top)$131,793
Oxnard
P10 (Entry)$80,758
P25$100,855
Median$123,301
P75$125,321
P90 (Top)$132,515

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Oxnard ($111,550 effective) pays 0.77% more than Los Angeles ($110,696 effective).

Los Angeles
Nominal: $125,713
CoL Index: 113.566
Adjusted: $110,696
Oxnard
Nominal: $123,301
CoL Index: 110.534
Adjusted: $111,550

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Los Angeles if…

  • Higher median salary ($125,713/year)
  • Larger job market (24,720 employed)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Oxnard if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($132,515)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $111,550)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Los Angeles grew 7.8% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 5.1% growth in Oxnard over the same period.

Los Angeles, CA

+7.8%

$113,160 (2019) → $121,980 (2025)

Oxnard, CA

+5.1%

$113,820 (2019) → $119,640 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Los Angeles or Oxnard?

Los Angeles has a higher median police officer salary at $125,713/year, compared to Oxnard at $123,301/year — a difference of $2,412 (1.96%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Los Angeles and Oxnard?

Los Angeles police officers earn $60.43/hr while Oxnard hygienists earn $59.28/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Los Angeles to Oxnard as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Los Angeles and Oxnard. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Los Angeles = $110,696, Oxnard = $111,550), job availability (24,720 vs 1,330 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Los Angeles vs Oxnard?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $81,283 in Los Angeles and $80,758 in Oxnard. The Los Angeles area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JL

Written by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in law enforcement. They specialize in community policing strategies. Jordan works with a municipal police department.

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.06% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice, a licensed police officer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov