Public Safety Survey (2008)
Executive Summary
California Data
The table below presents a summary of the California data collected from survey respondents relative to the ten California benchmark classes. For each benchmark class the State of California maximum base salary and the median maximum base salary reported by survey respondents are shown, followed by the "State Relationship to Median" column which shows the percentage by which the State of California salary would have to be adjusted to equal the survey median maximum salary. If the State of California salary is above the median survey salary, a positive percentage is shown; if it is below, a negative percentage is shown. Similarly, the State of California maximum Total Compensation, the median maximum Total Compensation reported by survey respondents, and the percentage by which the State of California Total Compensation would have to be adjusted to equal the survey median maximum Total Compensation, are shown.
| Classification | State of CA Maximum Base Salary | Survey Median Max Base Salary | State Relationship to Median | State of CA Maximum Total Compensation | Survey Median Max Total Compensation | State Relationship to Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrol Group | ||||||
| Patrol Officer | $5,762 | $5,632 | 2.26% | $8,512 | $7,911 | 7.06% |
| Sergeant | $7,008 | $7,177 | -2.41% | $10,122 | $9,455 | 6.59% |
| Captain | $10,837 | $10,236 | 5.55% | $12,999 | $13,184 | -1.42% |
| Corrections Group | ||||||
| Correctional Officer | $6,144 | $4,890 | 20.41% | $7,770 | $6,868 | 11.61% |
| Correctional Sergeant | $6,892 | $6,401 | 7.12% | $8,624 | $8,309 | 3.65% |
| Correctional Captain | $9,082 | $9,552 | -5.18% | $10,582 | $12,665 | -19.68% |
| Other Law Enforcement | ||||||
| Investigator | $5,705 | $6,363 | -11.52% | $7,102 | $8,619 | -21.37% |
| Supervising Investigator | $6,265 | $7,559 | -20.65% | $7,722 | $10,056 | -30.23% |
| Criminalist | $6,534 | $7,135 | -9.20% | $7,607 | $8,621 | -13.34% |
| Park Ranger | $4,786 | $4,319 | 9.76% | $6,370 | $5,994 | 5.90% |
A review of this summary data reveals that the State of California maximum base salary is above the survey median maximum base salary for five of the ten benchmark classes; and below it for the other five classes. Most of the percentage differences are modest to moderate, but for one of the classes, Correctional Officer, the State of California base salary is significantly higher; and for the Supervising Investigator class, it is significantly lower.
Because public safety classes typically offer a variety of compensation components beyond base salary, Total Compensation is generally considered to be a more comprehensive and accurate vehicle for compensation comparisons. When Total Compensation is considered, the State of California maximum is above the survey median maximum Total Compensation for five classes, and below it for the other five classes. Most of the differences are modest to moderate, but for three classes, Correctional Captain, Investigator and Supervising Investigator, the State of California maximum Total Compensation is significantly lower.
Executive Summary
- California Data
- Non-California Data
Updated October 6, 2008 at 12:14 PM.