Salary comparison
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: Santa Maria vs Seattle
Santa Maria, CA pays about 1.8% more for first-line supervisors of police and detectives on paper — $161,440 vs $158,510. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Santa Maria comes out ahead by $2,930 a year in real buying power.
Santa Maria, CA
$161,440
$143,710
$181,220
$77.61
100
$161,440/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Seattle, WA
$158,510
$134,650
$176,730
$76.21
100
$158,510/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,930 a year (1.8%) in favor of Santa Maria. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Santa Maria runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Seattle sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Santa Maria is the better deal by $2,930 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Seattle to Santa Maria for this role, the raise needs to beat 1.8% 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 Maria or Seattle?
Santa Maria pays $161,440 on median — about 1.8% more than Seattle ($158,510). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Santa Maria. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Santa Maria gives you roughly$161,440 of real buying power versus $158,510 in the other city.