Guide
Highest-Paying Police Departments in the U.S.
Published
Irvine Police Department in California has the highest top-step base pay of any agency in this guide at $171,309 a year. California Highway Patrol ($168,288) and San Francisco Police Department ($154,934) follow.
Eight of the 20 highest top steps are in California. The ranking uses base pay from each official schedule, before overtime or incentives.
Highest top-step police pay
View chart data
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Irvine Police Department | $171,309 |
| California Highway Patrol | $168,288 |
| San Francisco Police Department | $154,934 |
| Seattle Police Department | $154,248 |
| New Jersey State Police | $152,944 |
| Oakland Police Department | $148,403 |
| Austin Police Department | $143,578 |
| Santa Ana Police Department | $133,776 |
| Stockton Police Department | $131,575 |
| Maryland State Police | $131,344 |
| Vermont State Police | $128,438 |
| Los Angeles Police Department | $127,660 |
| Chicago Police Department | $127,146 |
| Long Beach Police Department | $126,942 |
| Tampa Police Department | $126,547 |
| Alaska State Troopers | $125,986 |
| Washington State Patrol | $125,892 |
| Nevada State Police - Highway Patrol | $125,760 |
| Baltimore Police Department | $124,316 |
| New York City Police Department | $121,589 |
Highest starting pay
Starting pay tells a different story, because some agencies front-load pay to recruit while others reward long service. These 10 agencies start officers highest.
| Department | State | Start | Top step |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Police Department | California | $121,654 | $154,934 |
| Seattle Police Department | Washington | $117,792 | $154,248 |
| California Highway Patrol | California | $116,040 | $168,288 |
| Santa Ana Police Department | California | $110,052 | $133,776 |
| Irvine Police Department | California | $106,766 | $171,309 |
| Oakland Police Department | California | $105,968 | $148,403 |
| Riverside Police Department | California | $100,980 | Not published |
| Long Beach Police Department | California | $97,635 | $126,942 |
| Alaska State Troopers | Alaska | $97,365 | $125,986 |
| Colorado State Patrol | Colorado | $96,552 | $106,212 |
Why the top payers cluster
High-cost metro areas pay more to compete for recruits, and state agencies such as the California Highway Patrol set pay against those markets. Cost of living eats into the gap, so a higher salary does not always mean more take-home buying power.
Check each department page for the step table, the years needed to reach top step and any incentive pay before comparing offers.
Figures come from the official pay schedules linked on each state and department page. Agencies revise pay plans, so confirm the fiscal year and step rules with the official source before you rely on a number.