State comparison · 2025
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary: California vs South Dakota
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California earn a median of $118,880. In South Dakota, $60,740. After cost-of-living, the gap is 56.6% — not 95.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+95.7%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+56.6%
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
South Dakota
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
- Median
- $60,740
- p25
- $52,330
- p75
- $72,000
- p10
- $47,540
- p90
- $91,900
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.