State comparison · 2025
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary: Alabama vs California
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California earn a median of $118,880. In Alabama, $51,270. After cost-of-living, the gap is 46.2% — not 56.9%.
Nominal pay gap
-56.9%
Alabama vs California
COL-adjusted gap
-46.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Alabama
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
- Median
- $51,270
- p25
- $44,260
- p75
- $63,090
- p10
- $37,480
- p90
- $77,220
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.8
California
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
- Median
- $118,880
- p25
- $97,280
- p75
- $126,780
- p10
- $76,300
- p90
- $153,190
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.