Salary comparison
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: Anchorage vs Santa Rosa
Anchorage, AK pays about 2.2% more for first-line supervisors of police and detectives on paper — $161,100 vs $157,650. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Anchorage comes out ahead by $3,450 a year in real buying power.
Anchorage, AK
$161,100
$133,890
$184,770
$77.45
100
$161,100/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Santa Rosa, CA
$157,650
$135,010
$177,260
$75.79
100
$157,650/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $3,450 a year (2.2%) in favor of Anchorage. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Anchorage runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Santa Rosa sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Anchorage is the better deal by $3,450 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Rosa to Anchorage for this role, the raise needs to beat 2.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do first-line supervisors of police and detectives earn more, Anchorage or Santa Rosa?
Anchorage pays $161,100 on median — about 2.2% more than Santa Rosa ($157,650). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Anchorage. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Anchorage gives you roughly$161,100 of real buying power versus $157,650 in the other city.