State comparison · 2025
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary: California vs Wisconsin
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California earn a median of $118,880. In Wisconsin, $78,090. After cost-of-living, the gap is 29.4% — not 52.2%.
Nominal pay gap
+52.2%
California vs Wisconsin
COL-adjusted gap
+29.4%
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
Wisconsin
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
- Median
- $78,090
- p25
- $67,450
- p75
- $84,850
- p10
- $58,530
- p90
- $94,450
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.1
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.