Salary comparison
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: Olympia vs Riverside
Riverside, CA pays about 13.6% more for first-line supervisors of police and detectives on paper — $159,810 vs $140,730. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Riverside comes out ahead by $19,080 a year in real buying power.
Olympia, WA
$140,730
$129,620
$161,090
$67.66
100
$140,730/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Riverside, CA
$159,810
$134,610
$173,880
$76.83
100
$159,810/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $19,080 a year (13.6%) in favor of Riverside. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Olympia runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Riverside sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Riverside is the better deal by $19,080 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Olympia to Riverside for this role, the raise needs to beat 13.6% 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, Olympia or Riverside?
Riverside pays $159,810 on median — about 13.6% more than Olympia ($140,730). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Riverside. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Riverside gives you roughly$159,810 of real buying power versus $140,730 in the other city.