BEVERLY HILLS—On July 3, news was announced of officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department via social media accounts receiving the highest pay in the nation.
The Beverly Hills City Council approved a $695.2 million 2026-2027 municipal budget last week allocating $124.9 million to the BHPD, which is a 6.8 percent pay raise for officers.
The starting pay rate for BHPD officers starts at approximately $118,000 annually increasing in rate by seniority to close to $146,700 for some officers and not exceeding $189,326. These rates do not include overtime pay.
Starting pay for officers prior to the increase had a base pay between $104,986 up to $118,118. Senior officers with the BHPD earned between $146,749-$189,326, not including overtime, or educational-assignment bonuses.
Reports indicate that the Los Angeles Police Department salaries are a lower rate than the BHPD with the beginning pay rate at an estimated $86,192 each year. Other local law enforcement departments such as Glendale, San Bernardino, and Burbank report an average salary range of $115,000-$118,000 annually.
California’s statewide minimum wage for 2026 is currently set at $16.90 per hour. This rate is applicable to all employers regardless of the company’s size. Some cities have higher rates such as:
-West Hollywood $20.25 per hour
-San Francisco $19.61 per hour
-Los Angeles $18.42 per hour
Minimum wage for fast-food workers is $20 per hour. Health Care Workers’ pay ranges between $18.63 to $25 per hour depending on the type of facility.
Both the California Department of Industrial Relations and UC Berkeley Labor Center Database breaks down pay rates by city or specific industries.
By Sharon