Starting salary is 6th highest of 11. La Mesa Police is highest at $112,153. Top salary is 8th highest of 11. La Mesa Police is highest at $143,145. Source: Port recruiting page.
100 officers on the payroll for the full year. Overtime added 23% to median base pay.
From public payroll records published by Transparent California. Officer ranks only, not supervisors. Medians, so half earned more and half less.
pay in the academy officer or deputy range, starting salary to top salary
The median household in San Diego County earns $106,268 a year. Port tidelands cross five cities, so the county figure is used.
One officer's starting base pay against the income of a whole household. A rough guide to how far the pay goes where you work. Income: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 five-year estimates, table B19013.
$10,000 for laterals, listed on a police union job page. Not on the Port's own page.
Sources, checked Nov 13, 2026: Port recruiting page · Trainee posting · 2025 use of force report · Union job page (bonus) · Port board update, Aug 11, 2026 · California DOJ stop data, 2024
Colors and logo from portofsandiego.org. The Port's Gotham typeface is licensed, so a system font is used.
Photo: North San Diego Bay, looking toward Coronado. Aerial - looking across North San Diego Bay to Coronado 03.jpg by Joe Mabel, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and tinted.
