San Diego (SDPD) police officer salary, 2025
San Diego is a city in San Diego County. 1,184 people worked as police officers for San Diego in 2025. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $152,844, overtime included.
What is the average police officer salary at San Diego?
Official pay range1
$77,688 to $125,715
from the lowest entry salary to the top of the highest police officer title
Based on the 944 of 1,184 police officers who worked the full year.
Most of San Diego's police officers (998 of 1,184) hold the title Police Officer II, with an official range of $99,091 to $119,725. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $160,889, $41,164 above the top of the range.
- Median total pay
- $148,154
- the middle police officer: half earned more, half less
- Overtime
- $25,899
- average per full-year police officer
- Starting salary
- $77,688
- bottom of the Police Officer I range
- Average pay rank
- 178th
- of 301 California employers
What does each police officer title at San Diego pay?
Each bar is the official range for one title, lowest first. The dot marks the average total pay of full-year staff in that title, where at least 5 people stand behind it.1
- Police Officer I$100,840
- Police Officer II$160,889
- Police Officer III$166,103
official range average total pay, full year. "Fewer than 5" means too few full-year people in that title to show.
Police detective, sergeant, lieutenant and captain pay at San Diego
Ranks above officer, kept out of the officer figures on this page. Each rank's name leads to its statewide overview. Range: the middle reported bottom and top of each rank's official range. Pay: average total pay of full-year staff, overtime included.1
| Rank | People | Official range | Average total pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Officers | 1,184 | $77,688 to $125,715 | $152,844 |
| Detectives | 299 | $104,042 to $125,715 | $166,215 |
| Sergeants | 322 | $120,245 to $145,371 | $201,866 |
| Lieutenants | 74 | $153,837 to $184,163 | $214,135 |
| Captains | 26 | $182,686 to $218,816 | $259,786 |
Full-year sergeants averaged $201,866, $49,022 more than officers.
Does San Diego pay police officers more than other employers in San Diego County?
Average total pay of full-year police officers: San Diego next to every employer in the county together, and the whole state.1
- San Diego$152,844
- All employers in San Diego County$155,333
- All employers in California$179,627
Full-year police officers at San Diego earned $2,489 less than the San Diego County average and $26,783 less than the California average.
Where does San Diego rank among California employers?
Every employer with at least 5 full-year police officers, by average total pay.1
All 301 California employers
San Diego ranks 178th of 301, below the middle employer.
Middle employer: $159,513
The 10 employers in San Diego County
San Diego ranks 9th of 10, below the middle employer.
Middle employer: $157,926
Each bar counts the employers whose average total pay falls in a $5,000 band. The dashed line marks the middle employer.
Pension and health cover at San Diego
As reported by the city. Contributions are what the employer paid per full-year police officer, on top of wages.1
- Pension formula
- 2.5% at 50
- the most common formula among San Diego's police officers
- Employer pension contribution
- $20,805
- average per year
- Health, dental and vision
- $11,886
- average paid by the employer per year
Questions about police officer pay at San Diego
What is the average police officer salary at San Diego?
Police officers at San Diego who worked the full year earned an average of $152,844 in 2025, overtime included. The middle police officer earned $148,154: half earned more, half less. The official pay range across its police officer titles runs from $77,688 to $125,715.
How much overtime do police officers at San Diego earn?
Full-year police officers were paid an average of $25,899 in overtime in 2025. The middle one was paid $17,520: a few people with a lot of overtime pull the average up.
What is the starting salary for a police officer at SDPD?
$77,688 a year: the bottom of the official range for San Diego's Police Officer I title in 2025, as reported. Pay rises with steps and overtime; full-year officers averaged $152,844 in total pay.
How much does a police sergeant make at SDPD?
Full-year sergeants at San Diego averaged $201,866 in total pay in 2025, overtime included, on an official range of $120,245 to $145,371.
What pension do police officers at San Diego get?
The most common pension formula among San Diego's police officers is 2.5% at 50, as reported by the city. The employer paid an average of $20,805 a year into the pension plan.
More salaries in San Diego County
- La Mesa$166,613 average total pay
- Carlsbad$163,685 average total pay
- Oceanside$161,103 average total pay
- San Diego Unified Port District$160,539 average total pay
- National City$158,980 average total pay
- Coronado$156,871 average total pay
- Chula Vista$155,805 average total pay
- Escondido$153,182 average total pay
- El Cajon$152,810 average total pay
- Highest police officer salaries in CaliforniaThe best-paying employers, ranked
- Teacher salaries in San Diego CountyEvery school district's salary schedule
Sources for the San Diego figures
Every person who held a police officer position at San Diego at any point in 2025 counts toward the headcount. Pay figures use only people who worked roughly the full year: those whose regular pay reached at least 90% of the bottom of their official range. Total pay is gross wages before tax, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Averages lead; the median total pay is the middle person's, with half above and half below, and is less pulled by a few people with very high pay. Every figure covers at least 5 people.
- State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges, wages, pension formula and employer contributions as reported by San Diego.