What does a First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives salary really buy you in California?
California is 12.5% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
California's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 112.5, meaning prices are 12.5% higher the national average. A First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives earning $162,740 in California has the equivalent purchasing power of $144,657 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for California's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $123,450 | $109,733 | $-13,716 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $135,360 | $120,320 | $-15,040 |
| Median (P50) | $162,740 | $144,657 | $-18,082 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $186,070 | $165,395 | $-20,674 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $205,820 | $182,951 | $-22,868 |
While $162,740 sounds high, California's elevated cost of living erases 11% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $144,657. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
California ranks #1 out of 50 states for First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives in California earns a median salary of $162,740 per year. After adjusting for California's cost of living (RPP=112.5), the real purchasing power is $144,657 — a -11.1% difference.
California's cost of living is 12.5% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for California is 112.5 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives in California: $162,740 x (100 / 112.5) = $144,657. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives's nominal salary of $162,740 in California has 11.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $144,657. However, California may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.