What Santa Maria PD pays
How we get pay dataTop of scale
$119,191
Posting · verified Oct 15, 2026Lateral start
—
Not publishedTracked since Oct 1, 2026. We keep every figure a posting has ever stated, so changes show here.
Hiring bonus
$20,000 for certified laterals, $10k at time of hire / $5k upon successful completion of FTP / $5k upon successful completion of probation, 12 months.
$20,000 hiring incentive ($10k at time of hire / $5k upon successful completion of FTP / $5k upon successful completion of probation, 12 months)Job posting · verified Oct 15, 2026 · sourceOpen jobs at Santa Maria PD
Police Officer - Academy Graduate
Santa Maria, CAOpen$5,000 bonus$8,172/mostartingPolice Officer - Lateral
Santa Maria, CAOpen$20,000 bonus$8,172/mostartingPolice Trainee
Santa Maria, CAContinuous$3,165starting
Requirements
From the department's postings- EducationHigh school or GED
- Academy paid by departmentNo
- Certification required to applyYes
- Takes out-of-state lateralsYes
- Lateral termsOUT-OF-STATE APPLICANTS: Assistance through the recertification course may be available.
- Lateral experience required1 years
- Schedule4/10 plan for sworn personnel
- PensionPERS ret. 3% at 55 (if coming from another PERS agency)
How Santa Maria PD compares nearby
All 11 Santa Maria Area agencies2 nearby departments start higher than Santa Maria PD.
| Department | Status | Starting pay | vs Santa Maria | Bonus | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria PD | Hiring | $82,282 | — | $20,000 | |
| Guadalupe PD | Not posting | Not published | — | None | |
| Arroyo Grande PD | Closes in 6 days | $75,571 | −$6,711 | $10,000 | |
| Grover Beach PD | Hiring | $91,248 | +$8,966 | $11,000 | |
| Pismo Beach PD | Not posting | Not published | — | None | |
| San Luis Obispo PD | Hiring | $90,168 | +$7,886 | None |
CopJobs is not affiliated with Santa Maria Police Department. Figures come from public postings; each shows its source and the date we read it. Work at Santa Maria PD? Update this page free.