Police officer pay in San Diego, CA
Police officers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a typical $110,400 a year. The middle half earn $82,360 to $123,700, and the top 10% earn more than $151,960. About 4,950 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, SOC 33-3051).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $78,010 |
| 25th percentile | $82,360 |
| Median (typical) | $110,400 |
| 75th percentile | $123,700 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $151,960 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 6 of 50 large metros for police officers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $110,400, a single filer keeps about $80,500 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Diego are 12% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $71,900 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Diego No. 10 of 50 large metros for police officers after cost of living.
Where police officers’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$136,140 typical · worth $86.9k
- San Francisco, CA$132,000 typical · worth $80.8k
- Seattle, WA$115,120 typical · worth $80.8k
- Columbus, OH$100,890 typical · worth $78.8k
All 50 metros for police officers →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among police officers in San Diego. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.)
Common questions
How much does a police officer make in San Diego, CA?
The typical (median) police officer in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earns $110,400 a year. The middle half earn between $82,360 and $123,700, and the top 10% earn more than $151,960. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a police officer in San Diego?
Anything above $110,400 pays more than half of police officers in San Diego. $123,700 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $151,960 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a police officer in San Diego take home after taxes?
At the typical $110,400, a single filer keeps about $80,500 a year ($6,700 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 12% above the US average, that buys what $71,900 would in a typical US city.
Where do police officers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical police officer pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA. San Diego, CA ranks No. 10.
More: Police officer pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Diego, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.