Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in Merced, CA
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $82,540 a year ($39.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 490 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,980 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $76,210. Pay here is 31% lower than the California statewide median of $118,880. There are 6.1 police and sheriff's patrol officers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $90,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,330 | $28.04 |
| 25th percentile | $72,200 | $34.71 |
| Median | $82,540 | $39.68 |
| 75th percentile | $97,790 | $47.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,980 | $74.99 |
| Average (mean) | $90,990 | $43.74 |
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 | $6,878.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,439.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,174.62 |
| Weekly | $1,587.31 |
| Hourly | $39.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $82,540 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 other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $78,370 | $37.68 |
| Security Guard | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,740 | $18.62 |
| Firefighter | $63,940 | $30.74 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $121,720 | $58.52 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
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 Merced, CA?
The median salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the Merced, CA metro area is $82,540 a year, or $39.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of police and sheriff's patrol officers in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $155,980 a year. The top 25% earn $97,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,330 a year, and a quarter of police and sheriff's patrol officers earn $72,200 or less.
How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in Merced, CA?
About 490 police and sheriff's patrol officers are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.