San Diego is California’s second-largest city, with a population of over 1.4 million residents.1 The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) employs approximately 1,822 sworn officers serving nine patrol divisions.2 Men and women interested in joining the SDPD will find information on the application process, academy training, and career opportunities below.

San Diego Police Officer Requirements

Candidates for an entry-level Police Recruit position with the SDPD must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  • Be at least 20 years old on the day of the written examination
  • Be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law
  • Have a valid driver’s license
  • Possess a US high school diploma or GED
  • Have no juvenile or adult felony convictions and no misdemeanor domestic violence convictions — both are automatic disqualifiers; drug use, serious traffic violations, and other criminal history are reviewed individually

Getting hired as an SDPD officer involves multiple sequential steps. Applicants begin by submitting an online application through the City of San Diego’s Personnel Department; those who qualify receive instruction to schedule a written exam. The written exam is a 100-question multiple-choice test graded on a strict pass/fail basis, evaluating candidates on reading ability, comprehension, clarity, and decision-making. Those who pass move on to a physical performance challenge — a 475-yard obstacle course designed to replicate a suspect pursuit, which must be completed within 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Clearing those two hurdles opens the door to a background investigation, polygraph examination, Appointing Authority Interview, psychological evaluation, and a medical screening. The full process typically takes three to four months. For a step-by-step overview of the law enforcement hiring process, see 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on our home page. To begin an application, visit the SDPD recruitment page.

San Diego Regional Police Academy

SDPD recruits attend the San Diego Regional Police Academy, located on the campus of San Diego Miramar College. The six-month program divides its curriculum between classroom instruction — covering California law, criminal procedure, ethics, and related coursework — and physical and tactical training that builds progressively throughout the course. Recruits are paid during the academy and are considered City of San Diego employees from day one. Academy graduates earn promotion to Police Officer and then spend four months working alongside a Field Training Officer before receiving a permanent assignment to one of the department’s nine area commands.

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

SDPD officers receive competitive pay that increases with rank and years of service. Recruits earn a base salary during the academy starting at approximately $76,400 per year (D Step); upon graduation and promotion to sworn Police Officer 1, base pay begins at approximately $85,700 per year (C Step) and rises to approximately $94,000 per year at the top of the Police Officer 1 scale. The table below shows the full base salary range for each patrol classification as of January 1, 2026.3

ClassificationEntry AnnualTop Step Annual
Police Recruit (academy, D Step entry)$76,428$79,980
Police Officer 1 (C Step entry)$85,692$94,044
Police Officer 2 (C Step entry)$109,140$120,132
Police Officer 3$104,400$126,144

Officers may supplement base pay through specialty pay designations, including shift differential (3.8% for second watch, 5.3% for third watch), Field Training Officer pay (10%), detective assignment pay (5%), bilingual pay (3.5%), and flight pay (15%), among others.2

Benefits include a flexible health plan with medical, dental, and vision options; a $900 annual uniform allowance; 11 paid holidays; 13–21 days of annual leave per year depending on seniority; $2,000 per year in tuition reimbursement; and 30 days of paid military leave annually. Officers are enrolled in the City of San Diego’s retirement program, which provides a benefit calculated at 3% per year of service at age 55.2 Deferred compensation plans are also available.

Projections Central estimates that California will see a 3.4% increase in police and sheriff’s patrol officer employment between 2022 and 2032, generating roughly 5,180 job openings per year on average.4 In the San Diego–Carlsbad metropolitan area, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a mean annual wage for patrol officers of $110,370 and approximately 4,990 officers employed in the metro.5 Find current SDPD openings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at SDPD

Every SDPD officer starts in the Patrol Division. Officers who have spent two to three years in patrol become eligible to pursue one of more than 40 specialty assignments — among them SWAT, K-9, Motor Officer, and Harbor Unit. Investigative positions open up after four years of service. Promotion to sergeant requires passing a competitive civil service exam; subsequent advancement to lieutenant, captain, and beyond follows a similar process. Based on the City of San Diego’s January 1, 2026 salary table, detectives earn a base salary of $104,400–$126,144 per year, sergeants earn $139,296–$145,872 per year, and lieutenants earn $154,368–$184,800 per year.3

Cities and Police Departments Near San Diego

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 4,990 police and sheriff’s patrol officers are employed in the San Diego–Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area, earning a mean annual wage of $110,370.5 Officers in the wider region can also explore opportunities with the Carlsbad Police Department, the Chula Vista Police Department, the Escondido Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. For more information about law enforcement careers throughout the state, see our California page.

Additional Resources

SDPD Contact

References:
1. US Census Bureau, QuickFacts, San Diego city, California (Vintage 2024 Population Estimates): https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sandiegocitycalifornia/PST045224
2. San Diego Police Department, Benefits: https://www.sandiego.gov/join-san-diego-police-department/benefits
3. City of San Diego Personnel Department Salary Table (effective January 1, 2026): https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/saltable.pdf
4. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections, California: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, San Diego-Carlsbad, CA: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0041740