First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives · California

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Salary in California

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives in California earn a median annual wage of $163,960 —54.6% above the national median of $106,040. That ranks CA #1 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$163,960
Median hourly
$78.83
Entry level (P10)
$121,720
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$204,500
90th percentile
Employment
13,200
0.7 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+54.6%
U.S. $106,040

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$121,720
$135,170
$163,960
$190,130
$121,720$163,960$204,500
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $163,960.

Employment is only 0.73× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Highest-paying states for first-line supervisors of police and detectives

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$163,960$78.8313,2000.73
2New Jersey$142,990$68.757,6501.80
3Hawaii$140,590$67.597001.12
4Alaska$137,320$66.023200.99
5Washington$136,280$65.522,7500.78
6Illinois$135,080$64.944,9000.81
7District of Columbia$134,760$64.791,2301.77
8Nevada$132,100$63.511,3000.84
9Delaware$131,080$63.024100.85
10Colorado$126,810$60.972,7900.98

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do first-line supervisors of police and detectives make in California?

The median annual wage for first-line supervisors of police and detectives in California is $163,960, or $78.83 per hour. That is 54.6% above the national median of $106,040.

What is the entry-level first-line supervisors of police and detectives salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $121,720 per year ($58.52/hour). The 25th percentile is $135,170.

How many people work as first-line supervisors of police and detectives in California?

About 13,200 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for first-line supervisors of police and detectives?

California ranks #1 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.73x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Which state pays first-line supervisors of police and detectives the most?

California has the highest median wage at $163,960 per year, followed by New Jersey ($142,990) and Hawaii ($140,590).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes