Police officer salaries vary significantly depending on location, experience, and rank.
- Nationally in the U.S., the median annual salary for police officers is about $76,290, with a typical range from around $47,640 at the lower end to $115,280 at the higher end
- In California, police officers earn higher than the national average, with average salaries around $99,500 to $100,330 per year
. Entry-level officers in California typically make about $61,300 annually
- Specific cities like Atascadero, CA report average police officer salaries near $97,946 per year
- The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) offers salaries starting around $88,698 during training and up to about $97,300 for full-time officers
- Salaries can be higher for specialized roles such as detectives or criminal investigators, who tend to earn more than patrol officers
Overall, police officer pay depends heavily on the state and city, with California among the higher-paying states, and ranges from roughly $47,000 to over $115,000 annually depending on experience and position.
