Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 68,010 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
68,010
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
68.01
workers
Location Quotient
5.37
vs national avg
Average Salary
$111K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.37 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
68,010
National: 646,310
10.5% of national
Jobs per 1,000
68.01
National: 12.67
+436.8%
Average Salary
$111K
National: $70K
+58.0%

Top States by Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Employment

#1
68,010
68,010
employed
#2
57,760
57,760
employed
#3
48,030
48,030
employed
#4
37,910
37,910
employed
#5
30,550
30,550
employed
#6
25,680
25,680
employed
#7
23,370
23,370
employed
#8
22,320
22,320
employed
#9
21,330
21,330
employed
#10
21,300
21,300
employed

What Does a Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California is $111,770. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 68,010 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers jobs (LQ: 5.37). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California?

The average (mean) salary for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in California is $111770/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals?

The top state for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers employment is California with 68,010 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 333051) in California.

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