Police Officer Salary

Los Angeles vs San Ramon: Police Officer Salary (2026)

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

Los Angeles, CA
$125,713
$60.43/hr
San Ramon, CA
$110,432
$53.10/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLos Angeles, CASan Ramon, CA
Median Salary$125,713$110,432
Hourly Rate$60.43$53.10
Entry Level (P10)$81,283$66,420
25th Percentile$101,184$83,269
75th Percentile$129,938$140,839
Top Earner (P90)$131,793$164,456
Total Employed24,72019
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Los Angeles ($125,713) and San Ramon ($110,432) police officer salaries.Los AngelesSan RamonMedian Salary$125,713$110,432Entry Level (P10)$81,283$66,420Top Earner (P90)$131,793$164,456US Median $78,542

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Los Angeles and San Ramon is $15,281 (13.84%). 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,San Ramon spans $98,036. San Ramon 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
San Ramon
P10 (Entry)$66,420
P25$83,269
Median$110,432
P75$140,839
P90 (Top)$164,456

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Los Angeles ($110,696 effective) pays 13.37% more than San Ramon ($97,641 effective).

Los Angeles
Nominal: $125,713
CoL Index: 113.566
Adjusted: $110,696
San Ramon
Nominal: $110,432
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $97,641

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)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $110,696)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose San Ramon if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($164,456)
  • 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 -12.2% growth in San Ramon over the same period.

Los Angeles, CA

+7.8%

$113,160 (2019) → $121,980 (2025)

San Ramon, CA

+-12.2%

$122,015 (2024) → $107,153 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Los Angeles or San Ramon?

Los Angeles has a higher median police officer salary at $125,713/year, compared to San Ramon at $110,432/year — a difference of $15,281 (13.84%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Los Angeles and San Ramon?

Los Angeles police officers earn $60.43/hr while San Ramon hygienists earn $53.10/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Los Angeles and San Ramon. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Los Angeles = $110,696, San Ramon = $97,641), job availability (24,720 vs 19 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $81,283 in Los Angeles and $66,420 in San Ramon. 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