Police Officer Salary in Riverside, CA — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Riverside's cost of living (index: 122). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Police Officer Salary in Riverside — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Riverside
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Riverside
Riverside has a metro population of 4,650,000, offering a large, diverse job market with many employers across all industries. The 5.3% unemployment rate is near the national average.
Financial Calculators for Riverside
Other Professions in Riverside
Police Officer Salary — Other California Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Police Officer make in Riverside, CA?
The estimated median salary for a Police Officer in Riverside is $88,182 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $72,280 adjusted by Riverside's cost of living index (122). The typical salary range runs from $66,893 (25th percentile) to $119,096 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $152,134.
Is Riverside affordable for a Police Officer?
On a $88,182 annual salary, a Police Officer in Riverside would spend approximately 23.8% of gross monthly income on median rent ($1,750/month). This is well within the 28% affordability threshold, making Riverside relatively affordable for this profession. The median home price of $560,000 is 6.4× the annual salary.
How does a Police Officer's salary compare to Riverside's overall income?
Riverside's median household income is $75,800. A Police Officer earning the city-adjusted median of $88,182 earns 16.3% more than the typical Riverside household — placing them solidly in the middle-to-upper income tier for the city.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.