Best paying police departments in southern california. Patrol Officers made a median salary of $72,280 in 2023.

Best paying police departments in southern california. Is there an IAFF resource that lists pay. 6 month academy & 12 months as a probationary PO 1, partnered everyday with an experienced Officer. In fact, the auditor-controller of Alameda County was the only non-law enforcement official who cracked the top 15 highest-compensated local elected officials list. Plus easy commute from anywhere in county to SF. ** Top 10 Best Police Departments Near Los Angeles, California - With Real Reviews (Updated 2025) Jul 18, 2024 · At the city’s police department, overtime paid to officers skyrocketed in the past three years as staffing declined. It screens out candidates who, based on their past history or other relevant information, are found to unsuitable for their desired Find a full list of PoliceApp's partnering police departments in California Law Enforcement Lateral San Bernardino Police Officers enjoy a variety of different duty assignments and work experiences that may not be available at other agencies. Nov 30, 2016 · Additionally, we wanted to adjust the salary based on the cost of living in a state — because your salary goes further in North Carolina than it does in California. 05 per hour in California. com. The best paying police departments in Florida are as follows: Fort Lauderdale Police Department: This department offers one of the highest starting salaries in Florida, ranging from $73,132. Here are our top picks for police departments to work for in Texas. Officers may select from numerous health care plans, the plan that best meets their needs. The average salary for a sheriff in California is $85,106. 6 million recruitment and retention program includes annual bonuses for five years: up to $15,000 for sworn staff and $10,000 for professional staff May 5, 2025 · Note: “Law-enforcement officers” includes police and sheriff’s patrol officers, detectives and criminal investigators. Sep 11, 2025 · The Beverly Hills City Council signaled unanimous support for a 14% base salary raise over the next three years for the city’s police department, which would make the city’s officers the highest paid in Southern California. However, for me, the example of real good police work has always been police agencies in the U. As shown in the table, with an annual salary of $104,160, California is the highest paying state for police and sheriff’s patrol officers. Visit GovSalaries to discover the top paying employers, states, cities, and highest paid employees in California for sheriff job. S. Many factors, including cost of living and regional demand, affect how much police officers earn. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment of firefighters in those cities are also shown in the table. Comprehensive list of Police Departments in the state of California. States like Mississippi and Arkansas struggle with lower wages for officers, making it hard for them to make ends meet. In an era where law enforcement careers are under intense scrutiny, it’s worth highlighting the regions that value their police departments enough to offer competitive salaries. Visit GovSalaries to discover the top paying employers, states, cities, and highest paid employees in Nevada for police officer job. ’s police departments — in order of total compensation. 8%) more than the average Entry Level Police Officer salary of $61,334. The Police Scorecard evaluates police departments based on quantitative data on arrests, use of force, accountability and other policing issues to make progress towards more just and equitable policing outcomes. All prospective applicants for positions with the Newport Beach Police Department must undergo a comprehensive pre-employment background process. PD’s new recruitment, retention program offers $100K bonus for lateral officers, $40K for new recruits Torrance PD’s $4. With 1,029,000 residents, San Jose should have a minimum 1,852, but actually has under 1,200. Mar 19, 2021 · 5. In 2023, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California metro area had the nation’s highest median police officer salary at $145,340 per year. If you want to be a happy cop, find a largely pro police type community with a smaller department that is somewhat adjacent to a higher crime area. The highest-paying states for police and sheriff's patrol officers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. Sep 6, 2023 · The Los Angeles City Council last month approved a four-year $384 million contract for police officers that sharply raises starting pay and provides retention bonuses to officers with as little as Top California school districts to teach at based on teacher salary, district ranking, teacher turnover, and more. Dec 1, 2022 · A Beverly Hills cop tops the list of the highest-paid California municipal employees, 100 of whom took home $439,000 or more in total wages last year. In this blog post, we will be discussing the highest paying police departments in the country, taking a close look at their wages, benefits, and other perks of the job. Jul 29, 2025 · Visit the Downloads page for a copy of state department employee information for 2024. 6 officers per 1,000 residents. — The Alameda Police Department is offering what may be the largest signing bonus in the country to attract new officers and fill long-standing vacancies in the department. I would also prefer to work for a city, just because I would not want to work in a jail working for a sheriffs department. com California Police Departments and Sheriff Offices in CA ALL A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Alameda County Sheriff's Office Alameda Police Department Albany Police Department Alhambra Police Department Alpine County Sheriff's Office Alturas Police Department Amador County Sheriff's Office American Canyon Aug 1, 2025 · The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security. It is important when looking at state-level data to remember that salaries vary within the states themselves. Jan 2, 2025 · Several Shreveport police officers are making 6 figures. The second highest paying city/area in California State is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont (mean annual salary $125,580). The top 100 highest paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. His $357,856 We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. This investigation satisfies two goals: It assures compliance with all applicable minimum standards for appointment. The top 100 highest paying cities for firefighters (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. Visit GovSalaries to discover the top paying employers, states, cities, and highest paid employees in California for probation officer job. List of 100 highest paying jobs in California. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment of police and sheriff's patrol officers in those cities are also shown in the table. As shown in the table, with a annual salary of $103,460, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California is the highest Jul 6, 2018 · Inglewood Police Chief Mark Fronterotta is the highest salaried chief in Southern California and the third highest in the state, according to recently updated public pay databases. See also: Federal and International Law Enforcement Agencies, Tribal Police Departments and Special Interest Associations. The average salary for a Police Officer is $99,967 per year in Los Angeles, CA. Get paid to learn and develop your skills at the best police academy in the nation. Aug 26, 2023 · 21 Highest Paid Police Departments with Salary: San Jose, Alaska, New Jersey, Washington, Nevada, Illinois, New York and many more. C. Visit GovSalaries to discover the top paying employers, states, cities, and highest paid employees in California for police department job. The Commission on POST is not responsible for the content or security of these external websites. With California topping the list as the most desirable state for police officers, and West Virginia ranking as one of the least favorable, the findings highlight the disparities in opportunities and support for those in law enforcement. California also tied with Florida, Texas, and New York for most police officer deaths in 2018, with eleven deaths each. Get paid what you're worth! Explore now. Many police departments typically revise their salary figures in January. Some of the highest paying police departments in the state of California include Sunnyvale, Oakland, and San Francisco, where they pay at least ten thousand dollars above the average salary. I now live in Louisiana, but I am thinking about moving to California because of the good salaries there and the way they work. The average salary for a police officer in Nevada is $118,472. 618 police officer jobs available in California. Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for police officer salaries Oct 6, 2022 · While money isn't the only factor in a good place to teach, many districts atop Niche's list show average salaries of $100,000 or higher. Getting your paramedic license will vastly improve your opportunities in SoCal. Search California public, government employee, workers salaries, pensions and compensation May 19, 2025 · For years, San Diego’s highest-paid city employees have been the same group of police officers who work thousands of hours of overtime and earn substantially more than top city officials Why ESPD? The El Segundo Police Department is a full-service agency, providing the highest levels of crime prevention and quality service to a community that strongly supports its public safety members. What are the best paying police departments in Florida? While it's difficult to pinpoint the exact highest-paid police department in California without specific salary data, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are often considered top contenders. Topping the list is Berkeley, with Belmont and San Bruno close behind in second and third. Public records show that most SDPD police officers, including those with just 2 years of service earn more than $100,000/yr. . At SMPD, you’ll experience the excitement of working in a world-class destination, Santa Monica’s beaches, iconic pier, and vibrant community make it a place like no other. For example Traffic Commissioner jobs pay as much as $5,404 (8. In this eye-opening video, we delve into the intriguing topic of police officer salaries in California, specifically focusing on the highest-paid police department in the state. Top 10 Best Police Departments Near Los Angeles, California - With Real Reviews PoliceLocator. These expenditures help provide good compensation for Jan 9, 2025 · Discover how much police officers make in California, from entry-level to experienced roles. What are the Highest Paying Cities in California for Law Enforcement Not the salary data you are looking for? Choose the city salary you want to see. Santa Ana is a good department to work for, but honestly, if you don’t speak Spanish you’re at a huge disadvantage. According to the bureau of statistics, the top echelons of police compensation in the United States are dominated by states such as California, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, with cities like San Jose, San Feb 29, 2024 · Santa Clara police officers enjoy some of the highest salaries in the state thanks to recent raises, especially when you factor in overtime pay. Dec 29, 2022 · Are you thinking about joining the police force? Do you want to know the state with the highest-paid police officers in the United States? Continue reading to learn more about this. The people of the county tend to be police friendly, the DA actually gives a shit, and most of the agencies pay well. Alameda Police Chief Nishant Joshi said the bonus is more about reform-minded policing than putting money into officers’ pockets, The Mercury News reported. Jul 25, 2024 · This guide compares sheriff and police salaries. 11. rookie police salary is in San Francisco at $112,000 KCFD has become a good stepping stone department. In 1997, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, responsible for police services for much of the bus and rail public transit in Los Angeles County, was disbanded and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority contracted with the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment of police and sheriff's patrol officers in those states are also shown in the table. The highest paying area for police and sheriff's patrol officers in California is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara with a median annual salary of $132,930. Explore salary ranges, benefits, and factors affecting pay in 2024. Learn about salaries, benefits, salary satisfaction and where you could earn the most. Serve in a world-class city with a supportive community and a strong commitment to public safety while working with cutting-edge technology, progressive policing strategies, and specialized units. Visit GovSalaries to discover the top paying employers, states, cities, and highest paid employees in California for law enforcement job. The average salary for a police in California is $84,330. The Department's mission is to provide a safe and secure community while treating all people with dignity and respect. Relatively easy to get hired (18 and a heartbeat), and a good place to get some experience before finding your career department. Best Police Departments in Southern California, CA - Glendora Police Department, La Verne Police Department, Pomona Police Department, Upland Police Dept, Covina Police Department, Montclair Police Department, San Dimas Sheriff's Station, Azusa Police Department, Cal Poly Police Department, Walnut / Diamond Bar Sheriff Station Sep 15, 2022 · Hi I know this is a subjective question and everyone has their own opinion but just wondering what agencies in the LA area have a good reputation and high morale as well as good pay. Join one of the highest-paid police departments in California, where competitive compensation is just the beginning. What Is The Highest Paid Police Department In California? Ever wondered which California police department offers the highest salaries? In this video, we div Jul 18, 2024 · Calif. Police, sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies in California. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. You couldn’t pay me enough to work for LAPD. California Law Enforcement Directory. See the list of the top 25 highest paid. After declining for several years, staffing levels increased slightly in 2023. Jul 30, 2024 · Explore 23 high-paying police departments you can work at pursuing your career in law enforcement to help provide safety in communities and enforce the law. Went through the hiring process with them and in retrospect, glad I didn’t choose them. State police - this will be highly dependent on the state, but state police generally pay well, they've increased incentives due to hiring shortages, and you get overtime unlike a lot of federal positions. Dec 14, 2022 · Sacramento has had a police officer shortage since the Great Recession 15 years ago, and in Los Angeles, the police department has no staffing problem, and is instead requesting more helicopters. Nov 16, 2020 · By Robert Fellner November 16, 2020 Oakland police officer Malcolm Miller continued his multi-year trend of shattering public pay records and is once again the highest paid police officer in California, thanks to the over $640,000 in pay and benefits he received last year — an all-time high for any California police officer. Nov 15, 2023 · California Highway Patrol officers are getting a big raise. Feb 18, 2025 · In 2022, police officers earned the highest salaries in California. I like the south bay as the weather is cooler and seems like these communities support the police. Which city’s officers do […] Hello, I'm currently in the process with a few different departments and I'm trying to decide which department is best to work for. It's followed closely by Washington, where officers earn an average of $98,070 per year. 1,402 Law Enforcement jobs available in California on Indeed. Jan 30, 2025 · The highest-paying states for police officers are California, Washington, Alaska, New Jersey, and Hawaii. Other leading states were Washington ($94,107), New Jersey ($88,100), Illinois ($86,130), and Hawaii ($86,080). The average salary for a Entry Level Police Officer is $101,564 per year in California. Mar 24, 2025 · From income levels to job hazards, these rankings shed light on the best and worst places to serve and protect. California Fire Departments List of all fire departments and fire stations in the state of California. With highly-competitive pay, expanded career opportunities, and the chance for upward mobility, lateral officers find the San Bernardino Police Department to be a great choice. Located in the San Joaquin Valley about 130 miles east of San Francisco, Merced has a crime rate that is 24% higher than the national average. Sep 5, 2023 · California police departments are offering signing bonuses and double-digit raises as they compete to hire cops after losing officers in tight labor market. May 14, 2023 · Law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California are still scrambling to rebuild their rank-and-file staffs three years after a national reckoning on policing triggered a wave of officer Jun 5, 2020 · Before the protests, before the urgency, Santa Ana Police Department already ranked among the worse in California. I wanted to know if anyone had any recommendations for any departments in the southern california area (Riverside, Orange county, San Bernardino, San Diego) that have decent pay and are more likely to hire someone young. Marksmanship Pay: Up to $32. Sep 16, 2025 · The Beverly Hills City Council unanimously passed a 14% base salary raise over the next three years for the city’s police department at a meeting on May 24, making the city’s officers the highest paid in Southern California. Tons of people move onto better SoCal departments from there. They also provide a great retirement structure, health benefits, and other incentives such as paid time off and department-issued uniforms… Alaska offers the highest average salary at $69,000 annually. Visit GovSalaries to discover the top paying employers, states, cities, and highest paid employees in California for police officer job. Highest U. The 10 basic traits the Irvine Police Department seeks in a candidate are consistent with our core values. Merced, CA Merced, California, is the fifth-best city for police officers to work in the United States. The largest listing of Law Enforcement Agencies in California. Jan 22, 2025 · Which cities have the highest police salaries? Police salaries are often paid by local governments and can vary broadly by metro area. Jan 2, 2023 · With the public’s ever-increasing demand for law enforcement and security, it is no wonder that police officers are some of the highest paid professionals in the country. It’s not like policing pays badly in California — sometimes the opposite. Illinois, Oregon, and Delaware are also among the top-paying states. Year: View Other Employers in Orange County Cities in County Highest Paid Employees Elected Officials in County Report: Highest Paid Employees Sort by: Save report as Excel PDF Show I see a lot of job posting for police trainee and police recruit in the Bay Area Are departments really struggling to find people if so what is the “easiest police department” I could get into in the Bay Area ? I have no experience, I’m only 22, I took the NTN already and passed but I haven’t really applied to any departments yet. Campaign Zero, which focuses on police reform, used data from California's OpenJustice database What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Entry Level Police Officer Jobs in California We found a few jobs that pay more than jobs in the Entry Level Police Officer category in California. The state with the best salary for police officers after this adjustment? That would be California. Apr 10, 2025 · Top paying companies Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Police Officer in California. Check out the Newest California Law Enforcement Job Openings including entry level positions with local, state, and federal agencies. Visit GovSalaries to discover the top paying employers, states, cities, and highest paid employees in California for police department - police officer job. The CHP contract guarantees wage increases based on pay at other police departments. Key Takeaways Police officer salaries differ significantly from state to state, with California offering the highest average pay. 00 per month (one-time annual payment in December) ** If an eligible officer is assigned by the department to perform the applicable duties, the officer’s hourly rate will be increased by the amount indicated. The average POLICE OFFICER SALARY in the California, as of August 2025, is $29. Taxes can dry up necessitating layoffs, pay cuts and equipment cuts. 8 to 2. The average salary for a Police Officer is $101,435 per year in California. Call 911 for emergencies; 816-234-5111 for non-emergencies. [More info in comments] Jul 31, 2024 · Police staffing across California is at its lowest in decades, with rural areas struggling the most to recruit officers, a law enforcement group says. Jul 1, 2025 · The Beverly Hills Police Department is hiring multiple Police Officer positions and seeking both entry-level recruits and experienced lateral officers. The average salary for a police officer in California is $118,472. Jul 19, 2024 · The City Council has OK’d a $4. The department has been pushing to increase the number of sworn officers to above 9,000 after losing retiring employees and those who left the LAPD for better-paying police departments in Southern The average salary for a police department - police officer in California is $52,281. Evaluate each department and hold them accountable at PoliceScorecard. 49 an hour or $61,334 per year. Jan 7, 2023 · The new contract features the highest level of compensation ever offered to the city’s officers, and would make theirs the second highest-paying police department in Orange County. Visit GovSalaries to discover the top paying employers, states, cities, and highest paid employees in California for police job. The best-paid 25% made $92,410 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $54,770. 80 to $123,432. For a list of all areas with employment in Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, see the Create Customized Tables function. Nov 28, 2023 · POST lists available law enforcement job opportunities here, upon request (non-law enforcement, administrative, private sector, federal, and out-of-state jobs are not posted on this site). Get the facts about police violence and accountability in California. It looks at average pay across the United States, the highest and lowest paying states for each job, and how factors like years of service, duties, and promotions affect income. Employers include City of Folsom, San Mateo, CA and City of San Ramon, California. Aug 17, 2012 · So it was with great interest that we perused a list ranking O. You will be looked on more as a helper that is respected and will likely make good money. org Top 10 Best Police Departments Near Orange County, California - With Real Reviews How much does a Police Officer make? The average annual salary of Police Officer in California is $70,500 or $37 per hour, ranging from $55,790 to $82,345 and $30 to $44. What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Law Enforcement Jobs in California We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Law Enforcement job is above the average in California. Apr 10, 2023 · ALAMEDA, Calif. city announces $100,000 hiring bonus for lateral police officers The City of Fremont has also introduced programs to boost recruitment and retention, including expedited lateral hiring, a double-overtime pilot and longevity pay The average salary for a probation officer in California is $71,204. States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers are provided. I have been looking at different department websites and I am assuming the highest paying department is in the Bay Area. Top choices not in any order include LAPD, LASD, Burbank, Glendale but interested in a few other surrounding departments. Compensation varied widely across California’s cities in 2022. Jan 31, 2025 · Here are some examples of major influences on police salaries: Cost of living: Police departments pay more in cities and other places where prices are high. Police officers earned more than the national average of $65,790 in 19 states and Washington, DC Here is the updated list of the top 15 salaries for police officers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as of October 2024. Jun 26, 2024 · RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, whose pay last year totaled $593,518, was the highest-paid government official across the county, according to a report released by Jun 4, 2025 · Law enforcement is funded largely at the local level, and almost half of California’s sworn officers work for municipal police departments. In-Depth Look at the Best States to Be a Police Officer California California is the best state to be a police officer, and it has one of the highest per-capita spending on state and local police and public safety. California Police Directory. The average salary for a police department in California is $80,962. In both 2019 and 2020, some Sergeants made over $300,000/year. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers earned a median of $104,160, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Links to detail salary information of each job in California. Mar 1, 2017 · You can get a new supervisor, manager, chief, city manager or mayor who has a whole different personality that can change your department from a piece of crap to the best place in the world (or vice versa). The average salary for a law enforcement in California is $48,323. Jan 14, 2024 · The Alameda, California Police Department is offering a $75,000 signing bonus – the highest in the nation – on top of a $113,654 starting salary, which is more than new officers make in major We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Apply to Police Officer, Deputy Sheriff and more! The average salary for a Sheriff is $33. Feb 25, 2019 · As mentioned above, California police officers are the highest paid across the nation. The average salary for a Law Enforcement Officer is $72,523 per year in California. See what makes these departments great places to start your law enforcement career! Looking for California police, arrests, warrants & records? Quickly access services from 839 Police Departments in CA. I briefly thought about transferring to another department out of state (OR, ID, and CO specifically) but quickly realized the pay, benefits, and retirement you get in California are basically unbeatable. Jun 7, 2019 · A recently released "report card" failed 78 out of California's 100 largest police departments. Apply to Police Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, Special Agent and more! Sep 4, 2025 · The agencies below are POST participating agencies and departments unless otherwise noted. Patrol Officers made a median salary of $72,280 in 2023. The assistant police chief’s total compensation was $716,284 in 2021, $208,087 in regular income, with the rest for lump-sum and other pay, according to a report published by the state Jul 17, 2023 · Almost all of the top-paid local elected officials in the state in 2022 were law enforcement leaders. The average Police Officer salary in California is $66,900 as of December 27, 2021, but the range typically falls between $62,500 and $72,800. California ($68,800), New Jersey ($68,100), Massachusetts ($67,000), and Connecticut ($66,600) complete the top five highest-paying states. The Department provides comprehensive medical, dental, and vision health care plans for officers and their dependents. Supply and demand are going to jack up officers' salaries, and those salaries will not account for the overtime pay, either. Of the ones you listed, I would probably pick Anaheim or Riverside. 1,083 Police Department Hiring jobs available in California on Indeed. Generally police departments should have 1. 6 million a year pilot program to recruit and retain officers for the Torrance Police Department — with lateral hires able to earn signing bonuses as high as Our mission: To protect and serve with professionalism, honor and integrity. Apr 25, 2014 · In this study, the focus is on public safety pensions, using recent data acquired from the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS), the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension system, and the City of San Jose Police and Fire Department’s Retirement Plan. Jul 31, 2024 · California leads the nation with the highest average salary for police officers, at $111,770 annually. Dec 20, 2024 · Calif. I am just curious which specific one pays the highest. Employment FAQs What qualities and characteristics does the Irvine Police Department look for in police officer candidates? The Irvine Police Department's four core values are Integrity, Quality Service, Accountability and Respect. cpzie adq qjv ddj zihp navg zefos hquupew hhkjh twjw