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Beverly Hills Police Get Major Pay Hike — Starting Salaries Now Among Nation’s Highest

Beverly Hills Police Get Major Pay Hike — Starting Salaries Now Among Nation’s Highest
Collage of a Beverly Hills Police vehicle outside the police center, and a welcome sign for Beverly Hills.

The Beverly Hills Police Department approved significant pay increases that place its starting base pay at $118,118 and top eligible pay at $189,326 (excluding overtime). The raises are funded within the city’s $695.2 million 2026–27 budget, which allocates $124.9 million to the police — up 6.8% from last year. Additional scheduled raises (6% on July 1, then 5% in 2027 and 2028), education bonuses and expanded paid time off (160 to 220 hours) are included. Despite the raises, high local housing costs mean many officers may still struggle to live in Beverly Hills.

The Beverly Hills Police Department has approved substantial pay increases that push its salary schedule among the highest in the United States for a municipal police force.

Beverly Hills Police Get Major Pay Hike — Starting Salaries Now Among Nation’s Highest
Salaries for Beverly Hills cops start at more than $118,000. Getty Images

Details Of The New Pay Package

Base salaries: Starting pay now begins at $118,118 per year and rises to a base of $146,749 for senior officers. Officers who meet education requirements and hold high-value assignments can reach a top base pay of $189,326 (excluding overtime).

Beverly Hills Police Get Major Pay Hike — Starting Salaries Now Among Nation’s Highest
BCHP crowed about the raise on social media. Instagram/@bhpd_90210/=

The raises are funded through the city’s recently approved $695.2 million 2026–27 municipal budget, which allocates $124.9 million to the Beverly Hills Police Department — a 6.8% increase from the prior allocation. The Fire Department received $64.1 million, a modest 0.2% increase.

Beverly Hills Police Get Major Pay Hike — Starting Salaries Now Among Nation’s Highest
BHCP officers are among the highest paid in the nation. AFP via Getty Images
“I think it’s a responsible budget, it’s conservative and it’s a roadmap to keep us on a financially healthy path,”

Mayor Craig Corman told The Beverly Press, expressing confidence in the approved plan for the upcoming fiscal year.

Beverly Hills Police Get Major Pay Hike — Starting Salaries Now Among Nation’s Highest
BHCP’s new deal also includes more vacation time. Instagram/@bhrotary

Raise Schedule, Bonuses And Time Off

The BHPD announced the raises on social media. On July 1 officers received a 6% bump to base pay, with additional scheduled increases of 5% on July 1, 2027 and another 5% on July 1, 2028. The contract ratified by the city and the Beverly Hills Police Officers Association on Nov. 24 also grants additional pay for officers with bachelor’s, master’s or advanced college degrees and qualifying training certificates.

Beverly Hills Police Get Major Pay Hike — Starting Salaries Now Among Nation’s Highest
Even though Beverly Hills cops got a raise, they may still be unable to afford the ritzy city. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Paid time off: The maximum accrued paid time off was increased from 160 hours per year to a maximum of 220 hours per year.

How This Compares And What It Means

While these BHPD rates dwarf starting pay at the much larger Los Angeles Police Department (about $86,192), local affordability remains a challenge. Payscale.com estimates Beverly Hills’ cost of living is roughly 160% above the national average, with a median home price near $3.5 million and a median monthly rent of about $10,513.

U.S. News & World Report lists the median household income in Beverly Hills at $135,064, compared with the national median of $83,181. Analysts estimate that a household income of roughly $200,000 to $300,000 is typically needed to live comfortably in Beverly Hills — higher than many patrol officers’ total compensation even after these raises.

For national context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual pay for U.S. police officers of $77,270, with the top 10% earning more than $120,460.

These increases are designed to help attract and retain officers in a small, high-cost city—but the gap between pay and local living costs means some officers may still face housing and affordability pressures.

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