Police Officer Salary in California: $119,990 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median police officer pay sits at $119,990/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 33-3051. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $106,092 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($139,337), Santa Clara ($138,422), San Jose ($136,140).

Police Officer Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California police officer salary overview (2026)

$119,990

Avg Median Salary

$57.69

Avg Hourly Rate

67,219

Metro Employed

158

Cities

In 2026, police officers in California can expect an average median salary of $119,990, significantly above the national median of $78,542, illustrating a 52.8% premium. The highest paying city is Sunnyvale at $143,601, while the lowest is El Centro at $78,563, creating a salary gap of $65,038. This disparity is primarily driven by the cost of living, demand for law enforcement, and regional funding for law enforcement agencies. California has specific licensing requirements that candidates must fulfill, along with rigorous training programs which can contribute to higher starting salaries. Additionally, factors such as a strong economy, population density, and increasing public safety demands help sustain a healthy job market for police officers, with a projected annual growth rate of 3.06% through 2026. Cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, Oakland, and Fremont also offer competitive salaries, reflecting their own unique socio-economic conditions and demand for police services. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective officers align their career choices with high-paying jurisdictions within the state.

California Police Officer Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$81,988

avg across 158 cities

Median

$119,990

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$148,740

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $57,528 (lowest entry-level) to $222,581 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$119,990

National Median

$78,542

California police officers earn 52.77% more than the national median (+$41,448/year difference).

California Police Officer Salary Distribution (2026)

Police Officer salaries in California range from $81,988 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $148,740 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $119,990. The California median is $41,448 above the US national median of $78,542. The average hourly rate is $57.69/hr. Approximately 67,219 police officers are employed across 158 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$108,823

2025 BLS Actual

$116,427

2026 Current Est.

$119,990

2019–2027 Growth

+13.6%

Salary Trajectory for Police Officers in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$108,823	Actual
2020	$110,908	Actual
2021	$104,482	Actual
2022	$105,852	Actual
2023	$114,362	Actual
2024	$116,113	Actual
2025	$116,427	Actual
2026(current)	$119,990	Estimated
2027	$123,662	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median police officer salary grew 7.0% from $108,823 (2019) to $116,427 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $123,662 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,839 (13.64%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.06% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $69.04/hr

$143,601

+19.68% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $68.59/hr

$142,658

+18.89% vs avg

San Jose

2,590 employed · $67.45/hr

$140,306

+16.93% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $66.90/hr

$139,135

+15.96% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $65.41/hr

$136,066

+13.40% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
El Centro	$78,563	-34.53%	$37.77
Bakersfield	$80,521	-32.89%	$38.71
Merced	$85,066	-29.11%	$40.89
Hanford	$85,303	-28.91%	$41.01
Yuba City	$85,633	-28.63%	$41.17

Best Value Cities for Police Officers in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for police officers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
San Jose	$140,306	110.423	$127,062
Sunnyvale	$143,601	113.1	$126,968
Santa Clara	$142,658	113.1	$126,134
Vallejo	$133,875	108.479	$123,411
Oakland	$139,135	113.1	$123,019

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$81,988	$39.42	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$119,990	$57.69	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$148,740	$71.51	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$143,601	$69.04	$87,938	$222,581	26
2	Santa Clara	$142,658	$68.59	$85,856	$214,017	32
3	San Jose	$140,306	$67.45	$108,265	$179,355	2,590
4	Oakland	$139,135	$66.90	$82,616	$215,659	78
5	Fremont	$136,066	$65.41	$78,918	$210,902	43
6	San Francisco	$136,039	$65.40	$98,309	$161,485	7,990
7	Vallejo	$133,875	$64.36	$100,587	$168,555	690
8	Napa	$131,206	$63.08	$89,250	$164,298	300
9	Santa Rosa	$129,763	$62.38	$83,808	$154,137	590
10	Petaluma	$128,522	$61.78	$83,766	$195,117	12
11	Anaheim	$127,950	$61.52	$74,882	$198,322	51
12	Santa Cruz	$126,733	$60.93	$82,273	$157,002	400
13	Long Beach	$126,130	$60.64	$73,155	$195,502	89
14	Los Angeles	$125,713	$60.43	$81,283	$131,793	24,720
15	Santa Maria	$124,600	$59.91	$81,603	$135,524	730
16	Oxnard	$123,301	$59.28	$80,758	$132,515	1,330
17	Thousand Oaks	$122,803	$59.04	$79,532	$190,345	32
18	Salinas	$121,838	$58.58	$80,789	$146,634	930
19	Santa Ana	$117,134	$56.31	$67,937	$181,558	69
20	Folsom	$115,647	$55.60	$68,668	$171,999	17
21	Fontana	$114,967	$55.27	$66,681	$178,198	32
22	Sacramento	$114,871	$55.23	$81,572	$164,298	5,420
23	Irvine	$114,841	$55.21	$70,640	$178,003	72
24	Roseville	$114,398	$55.00	$73,959	$177,317	35
25	Pomona	$114,280	$54.94	$69,523	$173,012	36
26	Simi Valley	$114,217	$54.91	$69,729	$176,738	23
27	Escondido	$114,190	$54.90	$69,784	$172,392	31
28	Fairfield	$113,985	$54.80	$69,216	$171,654	25
29	Chula Vista	$113,910	$54.77	$66,068	$176,548	51
30	San Diego	$113,778	$54.70	$80,397	$156,610	4,950
31	Fullerton	$113,565	$54.60	$67,948	$174,672	25
32	Daly City	$113,467	$54.55	$67,733	$170,095	20
33	El Monte	$113,431	$54.53	$68,110	$174,188	20
34	Vista	$113,369	$54.51	$67,973	$173,667	24
35	Concord	$113,342	$54.49	$67,914	$173,867	29
36	Clovis	$113,172	$54.41	$67,543	$168,748	19
37	Garden Grove	$113,056	$54.35	$66,835	$172,838	37
38	Temecula	$113,029	$54.34	$67,230	$168,535	25
39	Santa Clarita	$112,954	$54.30	$69,934	$175,078	41
40	Carlsbad	$112,827	$54.24	$71,853	$174,881	23
41	Lancaster	$112,805	$54.23	$66,744	$174,849	40
42	Inglewood	$112,805	$54.23	$66,744	$174,849	21
43	Corona	$112,663	$54.17	$66,320	$174,628	24
44	Richmond	$112,645	$54.16	$65,942	$171,363	25
45	Rialto	$112,591	$54.13	$66,278	$171,171	17
46	Torrance	$112,449	$54.07	$65,516	$174,296	26
47	Elk Grove	$112,234	$53.96	$65,392	$169,604	25
48	Oceanside	$112,208	$53.94	$65,334	$169,435	28
49	Whittier	$112,175	$53.93	$70,325	$166,531	22
50	San Rafael	$112,165	$53.92	$70,190	$166,426	11
51	Rancho Cucamonga	$112,064	$53.88	$65,026	$168,999	46
52	Hayward	$112,001	$53.85	$64,961	$173,603	23
53	Woodland	$111,973	$53.83	$69,754	$169,903	15
54	Buena Park	$111,955	$53.83	$69,829	$166,043	20
55	Encinitas	$111,947	$53.82	$69,810	$165,727	16
56	Downey	$111,940	$53.82	$64,925	$173,507	22
57	Dublin	$111,877	$53.79	$69,652	$165,766	14
58	Redlands	$111,842	$53.77	$69,573	$169,722	16
59	Chino	$111,780	$53.74	$69,320	$165,139	17
60	Westminster	$111,745	$53.73	$68,898	$169,379	21
61	Santa Monica	$111,737	$53.71	$69,221	$164,986	20
62	San Mateo	$111,725	$53.71	$64,801	$173,174	21
63	Tulare	$111,692	$53.69	$69,122	$164,831	17
64	San Buenaventura	$111,653	$53.68	$72,564	$173,062	19
65	Mission Viejo	$111,579	$53.64	$68,981	$164,718	23
66	Moreno Valley	$111,578	$53.64	$67,464	$172,946	53
67	Pleasanton	$111,561	$53.63	$68,942	$168,440	16
68	Pasadena	$111,404	$53.56	$69,270	$172,676	35
69	Santee	$111,325	$53.52	$68,411	$163,827	9
70	Glendale	$111,224	$53.48	$71,614	$172,398	36
71	Mountain View	$111,168	$53.45	$68,058	$163,275	13
72	Pittsburg	$111,158	$53.44	$67,583	$167,298	19
73	Novato	$111,123	$53.43	$67,845	$162,836	11
74	Costa Mesa	$111,082	$53.41	$68,568	$172,177	23
75	Berkeley	$110,966	$53.34	$71,044	$165,404	23
76	Huntington Beach	$110,939	$53.33	$71,320	$171,956	50
77	Jurupa Valley	$110,841	$53.29	$71,103	$171,804	24
78	Hemet	$110,808	$53.27	$67,256	$162,020	14
79	Union City	$110,800	$53.27	$67,237	$161,990	11
80	West Covina	$110,787	$53.26	$70,986	$171,594	25
81	Chino Hills	$110,755	$53.25	$67,026	$165,575	21
82	Gilroy	$110,598	$53.17	$66,789	$171,427	10
83	Redding	$110,552	$53.15	$60,960	$171,646	290
84	San Marcos	$110,537	$53.14	$66,201	$171,332	17
85	Tustin	$110,441	$53.10	$65,987	$164,769	18
86	San Ramon	$110,432	$53.10	$66,420	$164,456	19
87	Eastvale	$110,327	$53.04	$66,187	$164,087	10
88	Murrieta	$110,323	$53.03	$70,079	$170,009	25
89	Vacaville	$110,323	$53.03	$70,079	$171,000	15
90	Brentwood	$110,274	$53.01	$66,071	$170,925	13
91	Hesperia	$110,222	$52.99	$65,955	$170,844	14
92	Lake Elsinore	$110,213	$52.98	$65,936	$170,690	18
93	Citrus Heights	$110,073	$52.92	$65,627	$163,481	19
94	El Cajon	$109,974	$52.87	$65,731	$169,060	18
95	San Clemente	$109,941	$52.86	$65,225	$169,723	10
96	Bellflower	$109,898	$52.84	$65,241	$169,850	11
97	Palmdale	$109,850	$52.81	$68,938	$170,266	29
98	La Mirada	$109,849	$52.81	$70,780	$158,065	10
99	Apple Valley	$109,828	$52.80	$65,087	$162,343	19
100	Menifee	$109,796	$52.79	$68,932	$168,427	20
101	Yucaipa	$109,749	$52.77	$64,913	$169,320	14
102	Norwalk	$109,742	$52.76	$68,705	$167,951	22
103	Rancho Cordova	$109,643	$52.72	$64,683	$168,667	20
104	Montebello	$109,539	$52.66	$64,453	$168,577	16
105	Compton	$109,495	$52.64	$64,245	$161,186	25
106	Porterville	$109,417	$52.60	$64,185	$161,193	11
107	Lompoc	$109,402	$52.60	$69,857	$156,540	8
108	Hawthorne	$109,232	$52.52	$63,783	$160,554	13
109	Antioch	$109,197	$52.50	$67,528	$169,255	17
110	Burbank	$109,188	$52.50	$64,055	$166,283	22
111	Alhambra	$108,934	$52.38	$71,849	$166,443	13
112	Livermore	$108,934	$52.38	$68,225	$166,443	21
113	Orange	$108,902	$52.35	$67,003	$165,279	21
114	South Gate	$108,899	$52.35	$71,325	$166,320	25
115	Victorville	$108,876	$52.34	$66,947	$164,901	30
116	West Sacramento	$108,839	$52.32	$71,188	$166,105	9
117	Poway	$108,810	$52.31	$68,487	$154,797	8
118	San Leandro	$108,663	$52.24	$71,129	$168,428	23
119	Indio	$108,541	$52.18	$70,520	$165,060	23
120	Lake Forest	$108,541	$52.18	$70,520	$165,060	14
121	Carson	$108,348	$52.09	$70,534	$167,939	21
122	Rocklin	$108,330	$52.09	$70,495	$167,913	10
123	Newport Beach	$108,147	$51.99	$70,085	$163,683	12
124	Redwood City	$108,138	$51.99	$69,954	$163,306	13
125	Turlock	$108,112	$51.97	$69,896	$167,228	17
126	Manteca	$108,077	$51.96	$69,928	$163,439	13
127	Perris	$108,068	$51.95	$69,466	$163,408	12
128	Madera	$107,980	$51.91	$69,714	$162,826	8
129	Baldwin Park	$107,787	$51.82	$69,176	$162,156	19
130	Palo Alto	$107,787	$51.82	$69,286	$166,364	15
131	Lakewood	$107,744	$51.80	$69,189	$162,280	19
132	Beaumont	$107,429	$51.64	$68,052	$161,186	9
133	Tracy	$107,403	$51.63	$68,434	$160,821	14
134	Alameda	$107,368	$51.62	$68,357	$164,617	12
135	Laguna Niguel	$107,341	$51.60	$67,859	$164,799	16
136	Milpitas	$107,289	$51.58	$68,182	$164,341	16
137	Camarillo	$107,061	$51.47	$67,682	$159,915	13
138	Oakley	$107,018	$51.45	$64,408	$159,158	8
139	Davis	$106,991	$51.44	$67,418	$159,331	14
140	Upland	$106,912	$51.40	$66,917	$163,303	18
141	La Habra	$106,755	$51.32	$66,900	$162,412	16
142	Lynwood	$106,710	$51.30	$66,914	$158,708	16
143	Ontario	$106,402	$51.16	$63,489	$162,874	42
144	San Bernardino	$105,117	$50.54	$60,968	$162,932	33
145	Riverside	$104,987	$50.48	$72,966	$150,931	6,010
146	San Luis Obispo	$104,977	$50.47	$86,426	$165,535	460
147	Brea	$104,889	$50.43	$68,235	$155,406	10
148	Fresno	$103,854	$49.93	$67,278	$164,298	1,560
149	Stockton	$102,957	$49.50	$80,366	$134,854	930
150	Lodi	$101,536	$48.82	$65,384	$152,962	14
151	Modesto	$101,236	$48.68	$80,624	$127,475	960
152	Chico	$97,660	$46.95	$57,528	$160,753	270
153	Visalia	$93,692	$45.05	$64,103	$160,289	540
154	Yuba City	$85,633	$41.17	$65,216	$152,642	240
155	Hanford	$85,303	$41.01	$63,567	$136,956	210
156	Merced	$85,066	$40.89	$60,115	$160,753	490
157	Bakersfield	$80,521	$38.71	$66,278	$157,208	1,320
158	El Centro	$78,563	$37.77	$59,661	$164,298	290

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore police officer hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new police officers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced police officers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Police Officer Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do police officers make in California in 2026?

The average median police officer salary in California is $119,990/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $78,563 in El Centro to $143,601 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 52.77% above the national median of $78,542. The state employs approximately 67,219 police officers.

What is the highest paying city for police officers in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest police officer salary in California at $143,601/year ($69.04/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($143,601), Santa Clara ($142,658), San Jose ($140,306). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for law enforcement services, and competition among employers for licensed police officers.

How does California police officer pay compare to the national average?

California's average police officer salary of $119,990 is 52.77% above the national median of $78,542 in 2026. The state employs approximately 67,219 police officers across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level police officer salary in California?

Entry-level police officers (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $81,988/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $57,528 in lower-paying areas to $108,265 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many police officers are employed in California?

California employs approximately 67,219 police officers across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of police officers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the law enforcement field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for police officers?

When adjusted for cost of living, San Jose offers the highest purchasing power for police officers in California, with an adjusted salary of $127,062 (nominal: $140,306, CoL index: 110.423). This means your dollar goes 9% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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.

Clinically reviewed by Maria Gonzalez, MS Public SafetyData verified by Amit Patel, AS Criminal Justice

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 police officer compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more police officerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.06%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for police officers (SOC 33-3051).

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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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