California

Police Jobs in Santa Cruz Area

6 law enforcement agencies. 4 are hiring right now.

Open jobs

Updated 2026-10-01

Agencies hiring

of 6

Median starting pay

$100,256

▲ 11% vs California

Biggest bonus

$20,000

Santa Cruz PD, lateral

Every agency in Santa Cruz Area

Sorted by starting pay

Officer counts are approximate (federal survey). Pay shows "Not published" until we find a public source.
Department	Status	Starting pay	Bonus	Officers	Laterals
Scotts Valley PD Scotts Valley	Hiring · 2 openings	$101,280	None	19	Yes
Watsonville PD Watsonville	Hiring · 2 openings	$100,256	None	60	No
Santa Cruz PD Santa Cruz	Hiring · 3 openings	$86,772	$20,000	80	Unknown
Capitola PD Capitola	Hiring · 1 opening	Not published	None	21	Unknown
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Santa Cruz County	Not posting	Not published	None	145	Unknown
University of California: Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County	Not posting	Not published	None	21	Unknown

Police Officer Academy Graduate / Lateral Transfer
Santa Cruz PDSanta Cruz, CACloses Dec 31, 2026$20,000 bonus
$102,936starting
Police Officer Trainee
Santa Cruz PDSanta Cruz, CACloses Dec 31, 2026$10,000 bonus
$86,772starting
Reserve Officer
Scotts Valley PDScotts Valley, CAOpen
Not published
Police Officer - Lateral
Scotts Valley PDScotts Valley, CAContinuous
$101,280starting
Police Officer (Temporary/Hourly)
Watsonville PDWatsonville, CAContinuous
$52.22/hrstarting
Police Officer - Trainee & Lateral
Watsonville PDWatsonville, CAOpen
$100,256starting
Police officer
Capitola PDCapitola, CAContinuous
Not published
Police Officer (Academy Graduate / Lateral)
Santa Cruz PDSanta Cruz, CAContinuous
Not published