Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $121,980 a year — 60% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $85,939 take-home, or $7,162 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,009
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,563
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,769
- California income tax$7,115
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,586
- Take-home pay$85,939
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,870 | $37.92 | $60,184 | $5,015 |
| 25th percentile | $98,180 | $47.20 | $71,722 | $5,977 |
| Median (50th) | $121,980 | $58.64 | $85,939 | $7,162 |
| 75th percentile | $126,080 | $60.62 | $88,307 | $7,359 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,880 | $61.48 | $89,346 | $7,446 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $121,980 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $85,939 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,673 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #6 of 46 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $136,140 | $94,116 | $85,233 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $100,890 | $77,814 | $81,507 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $115,120 | $89,817 | $80,819 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $132,000 | $91,726 | $79,338 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $107,810 | $79,483 | $76,724 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,980 | $85,939 | $75,673 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $111,460 | $79,657 | $74,676 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $101,970 | $76,788 | $72,590 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 46 metros →
About the job: police and sheriff's patrol officers
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.5% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $136,140
- San Francisco, CA — $132,000
- Sacramento, CA — $111,460
- San Diego, CA — $110,400
- Riverside, CA — $101,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $121,980 a year, or about $58.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,180 and $126,080.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $121,980 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $85,939 a year ($7,162 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,700 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 60% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,673 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #6 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median police and sheriff's patrol officer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $169,350
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $167,600
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $127,890
- Firefighter — $98,050
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $78,770
- Transportation Security Screener — $73,610
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $55,700
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $49,900
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $43,800
- Security Guard — $40,030
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $37,290