What is the best state to be a first-line supervisors of police and detectives?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, California is the best state for a first-line supervisors of police and detectives: a BLS median of $163,960 is worth $138,036 after the 2025 state income tax ($11,126) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.7), an index of 136.5 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a first-line supervisors of police and detectives at $163,960, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 136.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

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Best States to Be a First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a first-line supervisors of police and detectives salary goes furthest in California — a $163,960 BLS median worth $138,036 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 136.5).

Which US states are best for a first-line supervisors of police and detectives after cost of living and tax?

For a first-line supervisors of police and detectives, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks California #1: a $163,960 BLS median becomes $138,036 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 136.5). Mississippi ranks last ($66,739, index 66.0). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

California ranks #1 of 51 states for a first-line supervisors of police and detectives. Index 100 = the average state; 136.5 means pay goes 36.5% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

136.5

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	California	$163,960	$11,126	110.7	$138,036	136.5
2	Alaska	$137,320	—	102.4	$134,155	132.7
3	Nevada	$132,100	—	100.0	$132,128	130.7
4	Illinois	$135,080	$6,545	100.0	$128,589	127.2
5	Washington	$136,280	—	107.0	$127,349	126.0
6	New Jersey	$142,990	$6,919	108.8	$125,060	123.7
7	Delaware	$131,080	$7,310	99.8	$124,008	122.7
8	Hawaii	$140,590	$9,185	110.0	$119,512	118.2
9	Colorado	$126,810	$4,920	103.1	$118,280	117.0
10	District of Columbia	$134,760	$8,580	109.9	$114,813	113.6
11	Texas	$111,000	—	97.1	$114,366	113.1
12	Minnesota	$118,750	$6,586	98.6	$113,732	112.5
13	Nebraska	$106,100	$4,421	90.1	$112,847	111.6
14	Maryland	$120,700	$5,438	105.0	$109,817	108.6
15	North Dakota	$98,300	$679	89.0	$109,737	108.5
16	New York	$124,080	$6,397	107.9	$109,046	107.9
17	Oregon	$122,130	$9,882	103.4	$108,598	107.4
18	Iowa	$98,840	$3,716	87.8	$108,389	107.2
19	Utah	$110,500	$5,028	98.9	$106,684	105.5
20	Ohio	$98,380	$1,923	92.8	$103,970	102.8
21	Arizona	$104,850	$2,146	100.7	$102,013	100.9
22	Pennsylvania	$102,400	$3,144	97.6	$101,726	100.6
23	Connecticut	$109,360	$4,440	103.6	$101,265	100.2
24	Missouri	$94,440	$3,558	90.8	$100,072	99.0
25	South Dakota	$87,810	—	88.6	$99,124	98.0
26	Wisconsin	$97,120	$3,995	94.1	$98,969	97.9
27	Wyoming	$91,400	—	92.7	$98,607	97.5
28	Michigan	$98,140	$3,924	96.2	$97,920	96.9
29	Florida	$100,880	—	103.4	$97,550	96.5
30	Vermont	$99,280	$4,171	98.0	$97,092	96.0
31	New Mexico	$92,200	$3,241	92.2	$96,472	95.4
32	New Hampshire	$100,060	—	104.2	$96,059	95.0
33	Virginia	$101,230	$5,021	101.1	$95,158	94.1
34	Idaho	$94,920	$4,285	95.5	$94,911	93.9
35	Massachusetts	$104,320	$4,996	105.8	$93,917	92.9
36	North Carolina	$91,100	$3,330	94.3	$93,050	92.0
37	Rhode Island	$97,690	$3,081	102.3	$92,500	91.5
38	Oklahoma	$82,830	$3,397	87.8	$90,426	89.4
39	Maine	$92,350	$4,654	97.0	$90,362	89.4
40	Montana	$89,380	$4,135	94.6	$90,068	89.1
41	Kansas	$82,950	$3,829	90.1	$87,846	86.9
42	Kentucky	$80,390	$3,085	90.2	$85,743	84.8
43	Indiana	$81,540	$2,416	93.3	$84,779	83.9
44	Alabama	$75,970	$3,534	88.8	$81,552	80.7
45	Tennessee	$74,770	—	91.9	$81,387	80.5
46	West Virginia	$74,280	$2,645	89.5	$80,041	79.2
47	Georgia	$80,120	$3,672	96.3	$79,391	78.5
48	Louisiana	$70,470	$1,739	88.2	$77,920	77.1
49	South Carolina	$73,700	$2,962	93.7	$75,455	74.6
50	Arkansas	$62,290	$2,221	86.9	$69,095	68.3
51	Mississippi	$59,860	$1,829	87.0	$66,739	66.0

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In California, a $163,960 salary is worth about $128,390 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $21,807 (≈ top marginal 13.30% (upper bound)) · take-home $142,153 · BEA cost of living 110.7 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $185,086, a $56,696 gain over California.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$185,086	88.6
2	Arkansas	$181,241	86.9
3	Louisiana	$180,305	88.2
4	Mississippi	$180,265	87.0
5	Iowa	$179,724	87.8
6	North Dakota	$179,702	89.0
7	Tennessee	$178,470	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$177,785	87.8
9	Wyoming	$176,889	92.7
10	Alabama	$175,362	88.8
11	Kentucky	$174,582	90.2
12	West Virginia	$174,371	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a first-line supervisors of police and detectives?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, California is the best state for a first-line supervisors of police and detectives: a BLS median of $163,960 is worth $138,036 after the 2025 state income tax ($11,126) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.7), an index of 136.5 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a first-line supervisors of police and detectives at $163,960, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 136.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a first-line supervisors of police and detectives salary go least far?: Mississippi ranks last of 51 states for a first-line supervisors of police and detectives: a $59,860 BLS median is worth only $66,739 after tax and cost of living (index 66.0). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a first-line supervisors of police and detectives is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.