Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay in California
In California, the median pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers is $57.15 an hour ($118,880 a year). About 65,940 people work in this job there.
That is 56% higher than the U.S. median ($76,210). California ranks 1st of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for police and sheriff's patrol officers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $36.69 | $76,300 |
| 25% of workers | $46.77 | $97,280 |
| Half of workers (median) | $57.15 | $118,880 |
| 75% of workers | $60.95 | $126,780 |
| 90% of workers | $73.65 | $153,190 |
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $136,140 | 2,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $132,000 | 7,990 |
| Vallejo | $129,900 | 690 |
| Napa | $127,310 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $125,910 | 590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $122,970 | 400 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $121,980 | 24,720 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $120,900 | 730 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $119,640 | 1,330 |
| Salinas | $118,220 | 930 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $111,460 | 5,420 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $110,400 | 4,950 |
| Redding | $107,270 | 290 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $101,870 | 6,010 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $101,860 | 460 |
| Fresno | $100,770 | 1,560 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $99,900 | 930 |
| Modesto | $98,230 | 960 |
| Chico | $94,760 | 270 |
| Visalia | $90,910 | 540 |
| Yuba City | $83,090 | 240 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $82,770 | 210 |
| Merced | $82,540 | 490 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $78,130 | 1,320 |
| El Centro | $76,230 | 290 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +3.5% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 51,500 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Security Guards | $43,240 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $96,370 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $103,640 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $163,960 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $124,840 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $53,960 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $131,210 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $61,250 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.