It sounds like what's common is that your police do a lot of overtime: https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2019/alameda-county/confidential3-confidential

It sounds like what's common is that your police do a lot of overtime: https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2019/alameda-county/confidential3-confidential3/ https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2019/alameda-coun... From your source (for the rank of Sergeant): Regular pay: $139,197.60 Overtime pay: $160,477.73 Other pay: $13,292.65 Total pay: $312,967.98 Benefits: $127,240.58 Total pay & benefits: $440,208.56 Based on Alameda county, here's some "living wage" stats: https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/06001 https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/06001 The way I interpret that is that they're paid with the idea that they'll have two kids or a Sergeant is a "Manager" (Management $124,884, from the living wage source). I'm curious what the reason for overtime is, but I suspect that it's staffing requirements. Debating pay to danger ratios is a pretty fruitless effort. People don't get paid for danger. See: https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Special-and-Incentive-Pays/HFP_IDP/#:~:text=Hostile%20Fire%2FImminent%20Danger%20Pay%20%28HFP%2FIDP%29%20A%20member%20of,IDP%20when%20assigned%20to%20a%20designated%20IDP%20area https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Special-and-Incentive-Pa.... TLDR: "Service members will receive $7.50 for each day they are on duty in an IDP area up to the maximum monthly rate of $225." Moreover, I was a 4 year Corporal living in the barracks with the equivalent of two deployments under my belt raking in about $20k a year. To my knowledge, this is a fairly standard rate. Side note, we used to crack all kinds of jokes around, "I guess I earned my 7.50 today." I think what people do get paid on frequently is the availability of people who can and will do the job. A limited and capable talent pool will always make more, especially when demand is high.