THE POLICE INDEXStop data 2024 · Pay 2025 · Hiring checked daily

Central Coast police salaries, 2025

Salary ranges and total pay at 27 police and sheriff departments in the Central Coast: Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz counties.

Highest top salary for an officer or deputy
$161,722

Greenfield Police. At the middle department of the 27, Scotts Valley Police, the top salary is $127,944.

Top salary

Greenfield Police$161,722
Seaside Police$148,967
Pacific Grove Police$143,860
Watsonville Police$141,313
Santa Cruz Police$139,260
Santa Cruz County Sheriff$138,840
Monterey Police$137,832
Santa Barbara Police$137,412
Marina Police$136,304
San Luis Obispo Police$134,680
Salinas Police$131,644
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff$131,372
Monterey County Sheriff$128,958
Scotts Valley Police$127,944
Capitola Police$126,734
Hollister Police$125,959
Santa Barbara County Sheriff$125,392
Paso Robles Police$121,737
Santa Maria Police$118,011
King City Police$116,630
Pismo Beach Police$114,733
Atascadero Police$114,238
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Police$113,616
Grover Beach Police$113,064
San Benito County Sheriff$112,860
Arroyo Grande Police$111,290
Lompoc Police$103,573

Highest published base salary for an officer or deputy, without overtime.

Starting salary

Monterey Police$113,496
Santa Barbara Police$113,049
Seaside Police$112,428
Marina Police$112,137
Watsonville Police$105,450
Pacific Grove Police$104,220
San Luis Obispo Police$104,208
Santa Barbara County Sheriff$103,702
Santa Cruz County Sheriff$103,646
Hollister Police$103,627
Capitola Police$99,299
Santa Cruz Police$98,976
Greenfield Police$98,509
Salinas Police$98,239
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff$98,030
Santa Maria Police$97,088
Paso Robles Police$96,009
Scotts Valley Police$95,460
Monterey County Sheriff$94,420
Pismo Beach Police$94,390
Arroyo Grande Police$91,559
Atascadero Police$89,508
Grover Beach Police$88,596
King City Police$87,030
Lompoc Police$81,152
San Benito County Sheriff$80,434
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Police$77,016

Lowest published base salary for an officer or deputy.

Median total pay with overtime

Seaside Police$186,206
Salinas Police$184,627
Hollister Police$183,156
Monterey Police$180,020
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff$178,142
San Luis Obispo Police$171,020
Marina Police$168,389
Capitola Police$164,024
Watsonville Police$160,623
Santa Cruz County Sheriff$159,214
Greenfield Police$157,444
Monterey County Sheriff$156,347
Santa Barbara Police$154,428
Santa Barbara County Sheriff$151,833
Pismo Beach Police$147,798
Arroyo Grande Police$143,965
Santa Maria Police$143,039
Santa Cruz Police$142,316
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Police$142,116
Scotts Valley Police$137,334
Paso Robles Police$127,239
Grover Beach Police$127,218
King City Police$125,953
Atascadero Police$125,369
Lompoc Police$121,080
Pacific Grove Police$115,182
San Benito County Sheriff$113,357

What full-year officers were actually paid. Half earned more.

Common questions

Which of these departments pays the most?
By top base salary for an officer or deputy, Greenfield Police at $161,722 in 2025, then Seaside Police at $148,967.
Which has the highest starting salary?
Monterey Police, where the lowest published salary for an officer or deputy was $113,496 in 2025.
Which pays the most with overtime?
Seaside Police, where full-year officers were paid a median of $186,206 in 2025.
Which pays the least?
Lompoc Police has the lowest top salary of the 27, $103,573.

Monterey County · San Benito County · San Luis Obispo County · Santa Barbara County · Compare every department · Highest paid departments · Police officer salary in California · Who is hiring

Source: California State Controller, Government Compensation in California, raw export, 2025. Figures are what each employer reported. Check the department's own salary schedule before relying on one.

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