Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Salary in San Diego, CA
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $110,400 a year — 45% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,024 take-home, or $6,585 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,458
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,845
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,601
- California income tax$6,038
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,435
- Take-home pay$79,024
Marginal rate: 22% 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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,010 | $37.50 | $59,667 | $4,972 |
| 25th percentile | $82,360 | $39.60 | $62,270 | $5,189 |
| Median (50th) | $110,400 | $53.08 | $79,024 | $6,585 |
| 75th percentile | $123,700 | $59.47 | $86,932 | $7,244 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $151,960 | $73.06 | $103,252 | $8,604 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $110,400 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median police and sheriff's patrol officer's $79,024 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,628 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 less concentrated in San Diego, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for police and sheriff's patrol officers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $110,400 | $79,024 | $70,628 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $121,980
- Sacramento, CA — $111,460
- Riverside, CA — $101,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a police and sheriff's patrol officer make in San Diego, CA?
The median police and sheriff's patrol officer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $110,400 a year, or about $53.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,360 and $123,700.
What is a police and sheriff's patrol officer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $110,400 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $79,024 a year ($6,585 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,473 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a police and sheriff's patrol officer?
Pay here is 45% above the national median of $76,210. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,628 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #10 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 37% 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 San Diego, CA
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $124,840
- Firefighter — $70,900
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $44,270
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $43,050
- Security Guard — $38,500