Salary comparison
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: Santa Cruz vs Los Angeles
Santa Cruz, CA pays about 3.0% more for first-line supervisors of police and detectives on paper — $172,590 vs $167,600. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Santa Cruz comes out ahead by $4,990 a year in real buying power.
Santa Cruz, CA
$172,590
$135,270
$187,270
$82.98
100
$172,590/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Los Angeles, CA
$167,600
$158,160
$199,890
$80.58
100
$167,600/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $4,990 a year (3.0%) in favor of Santa Cruz. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Santa Cruz runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Los Angeles sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Santa Cruz is the better deal by $4,990 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz for this role, the raise needs to beat 3.0% 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, Santa Cruz or Los Angeles?
Santa Cruz pays $172,590 on median — about 3.0% more than Los Angeles ($167,600). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Santa Cruz. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Santa Cruz gives you roughly$172,590 of real buying power versus $167,600 in the other city.