Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in California
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California earn a median of $118,880 a year ($57.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 65,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,190 for the top 10%. That is 56% higher than the national median of $76,210. California ranks 1st of 51 states for police and sheriff's patrol officers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 3.6 police and sheriff's patrol officers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $112,980, close to the median.
Pay range for police and sheriff's patrol officers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,300 | $36.69 |
| 25th percentile | $97,280 | $46.77 |
| Median | $118,880 | $57.15 |
| 75th percentile | $126,780 | $60.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,190 | $73.65 |
| Average (mean) | $112,980 | $54.32 |
Half of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,906.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,953.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,572.31 |
| Weekly | $2,286.15 |
| Hourly | $57.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $118,880 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,140 | 2,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,000 | 7,990 |
| Vallejo, CA | $129,900 | 690 |
| Napa, CA | $127,310 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $125,910 | 590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $122,970 | 400 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $121,980 | 24,720 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $120,900 | 730 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $119,640 | 1,330 |
| Salinas, CA | $118,220 | 930 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $111,460 | 5,420 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $110,400 | 4,950 |
| Redding, CA | $107,270 | 290 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $101,870 | 6,010 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $101,860 | 460 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,770 | 1,560 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $99,900 | 930 |
| Modesto, CA | $98,230 | 960 |
| Chico, CA | $94,760 | 270 |
| Visalia, CA | $90,910 | 540 |
| Yuba City, CA | $83,090 | 240 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $82,770 | 210 |
| Merced, CA | $82,540 | 490 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $78,130 | 1,320 |
| El Centro, CA | $76,230 | 290 |
Highest-paying states for police and sheriff's patrol officers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $118,880 |
| Washington | $102,080 |
| Illinois | $100,520 |
| Alaska | $99,130 |
| Colorado | $97,350 |
| Delaware | $92,970 |
| New York | $92,790 |
| New Jersey | $92,610 |
| District of Columbia | $88,650 |
| Oregon | $88,140 |
See Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $96,370 | $46.33 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $124,840 | $60.02 |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $100,090 | $48.12 |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $109,650 | $52.71 |
| Security Guard | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| Firefighter | $85,120 | $40.92 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $39,330 | $18.91 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $42,720 | $20.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $163,960 | $78.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $53,960 | $25.94 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $127,630 | $61.36 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $73,610 | $35.39 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officers make in California?
The median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in California is $118,880 a year, or $57.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid police and sheriff's patrol officers make in California?
The top 10% of police and sheriff's patrol officers in California earn at least $153,190 a year. The top 25% earn $126,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,300 a year, and a quarter of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn $97,280 or less.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in California?
About 65,940 police and sheriff's patrol officers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.