Police Officer Salary

San Francisco vs Vallejo: Police Officer Salary (2026)

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

San Francisco, CA
$136,039
$65.40/hr
Vallejo, CA
$133,875
$64.36/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSan Francisco, CAVallejo, CA
Median Salary$136,039$133,875
Hourly Rate$65.40$64.36
Entry Level (P10)$98,309$100,587
25th Percentile$128,794$109,357
75th Percentile$146,149$157,208
Top Earner (P90)$161,485$168,555
Total Employed7,990690
Side-by-side bar chart comparing San Francisco ($136,039) and Vallejo ($133,875) police officer salaries.San FranciscoVallejoMedian Salary$136,039$133,875Entry Level (P10)$98,309$100,587Top Earner (P90)$161,485$168,555US Median $78,542

Verdict

San Francisco, CA offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Vallejo.

The salary gap between San Francisco and Vallejo is $2,164 (1.62%). San Francisco's median is +73.21% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in San Francisco spans $63,176,Vallejo spans $67,968. Vallejo has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

San Francisco
P10 (Entry)$98,309
P25$128,794
Median$136,039
P75$146,149
P90 (Top)$161,485
Vallejo
P10 (Entry)$100,587
P25$109,357
Median$133,875
P75$157,208
P90 (Top)$168,555

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Vallejo ($123,411 effective) pays 4.88% more than San Francisco ($117,668 effective).

San Francisco
Nominal: $136,039
CoL Index: 115.613
Adjusted: $117,668
Vallejo
Nominal: $133,875
CoL Index: 108.479
Adjusted: $123,411

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose San Francisco if…

  • Higher median salary ($136,039/year)
  • Larger job market (7,990 employed)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Vallejo if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($168,555)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $123,411)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in San Francisco grew 8.5% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 6.9% growth in Vallejo over the same period.

San Francisco, CA

+8.5%

$121,650 (2019) → $132,000 (2025)

Vallejo, CA

+6.9%

$121,470 (2019) → $129,900 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: San Francisco or Vallejo?

San Francisco has a higher median police officer salary at $136,039/year, compared to Vallejo at $133,875/year — a difference of $2,164 (1.62%).

What is the hourly rate difference between San Francisco and Vallejo?

San Francisco police officers earn $65.40/hr while Vallejo hygienists earn $64.36/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from San Francisco to Vallejo as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing San Francisco and Vallejo. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: San Francisco = $117,668, Vallejo = $123,411), job availability (7,990 vs 690 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in San Francisco vs Vallejo?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $98,309 in San Francisco and $100,587 in Vallejo. The Vallejo 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