The average salary for a sheriff in California is around $118,880 per year.
Avg Salary
Sheriffs earn an average yearly salary of $118,880.
Wages typically start from $76,300 and go up to $153,190.
39% above national average Updated in 2025
Sheriff earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$73.65 per hour
$153,190 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$60.95 per hour
$126,780 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$57.15 per hour
$118,880 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$46.77 per hour
$97,280 per year
10th percentile
Starting level sheriff earnings begin at:
$36.69 per hour
$76,300 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Sheriff salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $99,130 |
| Colorado | $97,350 |
| Delaware | $92,970 |
| New York | $92,790 |
| New Jersey | $92,610 |
| District of Columbia | $88,650 |
| Oregon | $88,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,470 |
| Hawaii | $83,820 |
| Minnesota | $83,360 |
| Connecticut | $82,170 |
| Massachusetts | $78,940 |
| Arizona | $78,880 |
| Nevada | $78,140 |
| Wisconsin | $78,090 |
| Maryland | $77,970 |
| Utah | $77,310 |
| Rhode Island | $77,230 |
| Ohio | $77,020 |
| Texas | $75,900 |
| Nebraska | $74,620 |
| North Dakota | $74,500 |
| Florida | $74,470 |
| Iowa | $74,470 |
| Michigan | $73,730 |
| Indiana | $73,370 |
| New Hampshire | $71,640 |
| Montana | $70,050 |
| New Mexico | $69,180 |
| Vermont | $68,910 |
| Maine | $67,050 |
| Idaho | $66,990 |
| Wyoming | $66,140 |
| Virginia | $65,870 |
| South Dakota | $60,740 |
| Kentucky | $60,490 |
| Oklahoma | $59,700 |
| Missouri | $59,460 |
| North Carolina | $59,300 |
| Tennessee | $59,280 |
| Kansas | $59,230 |
| Georgia | $58,120 |
| South Carolina | $58,070 |
| West Virginia | $56,960 |
| Alabama | $51,270 |
| Louisiana | $48,380 |
| Arkansas | $47,670 |
| Mississippi | $46,140 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,010 |
| California | $118,880 |
| Washington | $102,080 |
| Illinois | $100,520 |
How do sheriff salaries compare to similar careers?
Sheriffs earn 7% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than compliance managers but more than forensic science technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Compliance manager salary | $175K |
| Detective salary | $125K |
| Customs inspector salary | $125K |
| Special agent salary | $125K |
| Arbitrator salary | $98K |
| Police officer salary | $119K |
| Sheriff salary | $119K |
| Court reporter salary | $116K |
| Probation officer salary | $104K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $102K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)