Police Department

Salary and Benefits

Hiring Incentives

Police Recruit: $15,000 Recruitment Incentive paid in three equal parts:

• Upon hire
• Upon academy graduation
• Upon completion of 1 year probabtion as Police Officer

Lateral Police Recruit: $30,000 Recruitment Incentive paid in three equal parts:

• Upon hire
• Upon completion of 1 year probabtion as Police Officer
• Upon completion of 24 months of service

Childcare Subsidy

• Up to $24,000 ($1,000 per month) childcare subsidy for qualifying child dependant age 12 and under during first 24 months of service.

Housing Subsidy

• Up to $24,000 ($1,000 per month) housing subsidy for new hires living in Long Beach during first 24 months of service. 

Benefits

• 4/40 work schedule (after the academy)
• Eligible for GI benefits while in the academy
• Paid Vacation, Personal Holidays, Sick Leave
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Officer Wellness Programs
• Life Insurance
• Military Leave
• Deferred Compensation
• Credit Union Membership
• Free Bus Transportation (Long Beach Transit)
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Eligible after 6 months of full-time City service
• Pension 2.7% for each year worked upon reaching 57 years of age
• Vacation and Longetivity Credits for prior sworn service

Incentive Pay

• Education Pay:
  • Associate Degree: $1.60 per hour
  • Bachelor's Degree: $2.91 per hour
  • Master's Degree: $3.78 per hour
• Intermediate POST Pay: $1.74 per hour
• Wellness Pay: Amount varies based on participation
• Longevity Pay: 10 years - $3.05 per hour; 15 years - $4.58 per hour; 20 years - $6.10 per hour. (Other agency experience considered)
• Marksmanship Pay:
  • Marksman $1.85 per pay period ($48.00 annually)
  • Sharpshooter $3.69 per pay period ($96.00 annually)
  • Expert $7.38 per pay period ($192.00 annually)
  • Master $14.77 per pay period ($384.00 annually)

** If an eligible officer is assigned by the department to perform the applicable duties, the officer’s hourly rate will be increased by the amount indicated.**

Skill pays

• Patrol Premium Pay: $2.91 per hour
• Bilingual Pay: $1.20 per hour
• Helicopter Pilot Pay: $5.00 per hour
• Helicopter Observer Pay: $2.39 per hour
• Two Wheeled Motorcycle Pay: $3.04 per hour
• Detective Pay: $2.61 per hour
• Detective 2 Pay: $7.27 per hour (while assigned to Homicide)
• Canine Pay: $3.04 per hour
• Port Security Pay: $3.04 per hour
• Dive Team Pay: $3.49 per hour (while training or activated)
• S.W.A.T. Pay: $5.81 per hour (while training or activated)
• Field Training Officer Pay: $8.72 per hour (while training)
• One-Officer Car Pay: $8.72 per hour 
• Watch 1: $5.81 per hour
• Watch 2: $2.91 per hour
• Watch 3: $5.81 per hour

• POLICE RECRUIT AND ACADEMY GRADUATE

  This Classification qualifies for recruitment incentives of up to $63,000.

  • $42.24 per hour while in the Academy
  • $46.94 - $61.03 police officer hourly range

  Entry Level Retirement Plan

  • (P.E.R.S.) - 2.7% for each year worked upon reaching 57 years of age

  Recruit Hiring Incentives
  

  • $15,000 Recruit/Academy Graduate sign-on bonus
  • Up to $24,000 for childcare
  • Up to $24,000 for housing
  • Overtime at 2x base pay for some assignments
  • Starting base salary during Academy - $42.24/hr
  • Base salary upon graduation - $46.94/hr
  • Skill pays including education, bilingual, patrol assignments
  • Paid Parental Leave

  *Compensation rates effective 1/1/2026

• POLICE OFFICER - LATERAL

  Police laterals are eligible for recruitment incentives of up to $78,000.
  
  $52.23 - $61.03 police officer base hourly rate
  
  Compensation step placement for laterals holding a California Basic POST Certificate: 

  Step Placement	Years of Service as a Police Officer with a Current California Basic POST Certificate	California Basic POST Certificate
  1	N/A	N/A
  2	N/A	N/A
  3	1.5 years	Yes
  4	2.5 years	Yes
  5	3.5 years	Yes
  6	4.5 years	Yes

  Police Officer - Lateral applicants should contact the Long Beach Police Department Personnel Division to determine their compensation and benefits rates: (562) 570-7120

  Lateral Officer Retirement Plan

  • Classic Members (hired into CalPERS before 12/31/2012) - 2.0% for each year worked upon reaching 50 years of age, increasing to 2.7% at age 55

  • PEPRA Members (hired into CalPERS on/after 1/1/2013) - 2.0% for each year worked upon reaching 50 years of age, increasing to 2.7% at age 57 

  Lateral Police Officer Hiring Incentives

  • $30,000 Lateral sign-on bonus
  • Up to $24,000 for childcare
  • Up to $24,000 for housing
  • Overtime at 2x base pay for some assignments
  • Skill pays including education, bilingual, patrol assignments
  • Laterals eligible for longevity pay and vacation accruals based on prior service
  *Compensation rates effective 1/1/2026