State comparison · 2025
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary: California vs North Carolina
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California earn a median of $118,880. In North Carolina, $59,300. After cost-of-living, the gap is 70.8% — not 100.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+100.5%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+70.8%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
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
North Carolina
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
- Median
- $59,300
- p25
- $49,460
- p75
- $72,700
- p10
- $46,040
- p90
- $80,240
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
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.