Salaries › Police Officer › California
Police Officer Salary in California (2026)
$57.15 per hour · take-home ≈ $85,483/year ($7,124/month) for a single filer
Police Officer pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $76,300 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $97,280 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $118,880 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $126,780 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $153,190 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 65,940 Police Officer jobs in California (occupation code 33-3051, “Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Police Officer salary of $118,880 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $85,483 — an effective tax rate of 28.1%.
| Gross (median) | $118,880 |
| Federal income tax | −$17,324 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$9,094 |
| California state income tax | −$6,979 |
| Take-home (annual) | $85,483 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $7,124 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Police Officer make in California?
- The median Police Officer salary in California is $118,880 per year ($57.15 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $97,280 and $126,780.
- What is the take-home pay for a Police Officer in California?
- On the median salary of $118,880, a single filer in California takes home about $85,483 per year ($7,124 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 28.1%.
- How many Police Officer jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 65,940 Police Officer jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Police Officers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.