National City Police salary

Pay from the academy to top salary

What officers were actually paid in 2024

60 officers on the payroll for the full year. Overtime added 17% to median base pay.

From public payroll records published by Transparent California. Officer ranks only, not supervisors. Medians, so half earned more and half less.

How National City Police pay compares

pay in the academy officer or deputy range, starting salary to top salary

Full pay ranking

Starting salary is 163% of the local household income

The median household in National City earns $66,841 a year.

One officer's starting base pay against the income of a whole household. A rough guide to how far the pay goes where you work. Income: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 five-year estimates, table B19013.

Extra pay and notes

• Recruit pay is converted from the posted monthly range of $6,656.62 to $8,171.80 (x 12).
• Officer pay is converted from the posted monthly range of $9,096 to $11,168 (x 12), as rounded by a job-board copy of the city posting.
• Police Recruit is a non-sworn trainee class until academy graduation.
• The city's Police Officer Details page lists a 4/10 patrol schedule.
• Listed incentive pays: POST Intermediate 5%, POST Advanced 5%, bilingual 4%, field training officer 3%, SWAT 3%, K-9 4%, motors 4%.
• Sworn officers who live in National City receive $200 a month, per the same page.
• Retirement for new members is CalPERS 2.7% at 57 with a 9% employee contribution.
• Laterals who are current peace officers may qualify for CalPERS 3% at 55.
• The NCPOA contract runs January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. Scheduled raise percentages were not retrievable.
• The incentive and benefit list comes from a city page that still cites the contract ending December 31, 2024.

Hiring or lateral bonus

Lateral hire bonus of $30,000: $10,000 at hire, $10,000 after probation, $10,000 at the two-year anniversary (June 2026 officer posting). No recruit bonus is published.