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Wow. Lesson number one from this list is that if you want to make a boatload working for the government, be a cop. Aside from top administrators, the top ranks of the list are dominated by regular transit cops.

Usually the very, very generous retirement benefits drive high police compensation. Well paid overtime helps, too.

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In San Francisco, SFPD can retire with 30% of their average 3 year salary after just 10 years on the job AND 55 years of age. Usually, this is around 100k for a 10 year veteran of the force. So, if one starts at SFPD at age 45, one can retire with about $33k per year at 55. There is also a COLA adjustment per year. Average life span for a male is around 76 years. The pension benefit ALONE is worth about $700k not including the COLA adjustment.

People wonder why this state and municipalities are SCREWED, and they wonder why several cities have filed bankruptcy or have skirted bankruptcy. This is PART, a BIG PART, of the reason.

And the ability to actually kill someone you don't like and not go to jail (though you could lose your job) is quite a perk as well.

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