Salary comparison
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: Los Angeles vs San Jose
Los Angeles, CA pays about 2.4% more for first-line supervisors of police and detectives on paper — $167,600 vs $163,700. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Los Angeles comes out ahead by $3,900 a year in real buying power.
Los Angeles, CA
$167,600
$158,160
$199,890
$80.58
100
$167,600/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
San Jose, CA
$163,700
$163,600
$210,710
$78.70
100
$163,700/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $3,900 a year (2.4%) in favor of Los Angeles. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Los Angeles runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Jose sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Los Angeles is the better deal by $3,900 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from San Jose to Los Angeles for this role, the raise needs to beat 2.4% 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, Los Angeles or San Jose?
Los Angeles pays $167,600 on median — about 2.4% more than San Jose ($163,700). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Los Angeles. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Los Angeles gives you roughly$167,600 of real buying power versus $163,700 in the other city.