As officials wrestle with how much the town can and should pay part-time Interim Police Chief Richard Stanley to come to Wareham as full-time permanent chief, the evidence from similar nearby towns would appear to put the market rate at somewhere between $88,400 and $141,800 a year.

Stanley makes just over $133,000 in North Andover, where he currently serves as full-time permanent chief while using weekend and vacation time to work in Wareham.

Officials in various towns say the difference in police chief salaries depends on number of years of experience, the chief's level of education, and other variables.

Bourne's police chief was hired in January at a salary of $141,814. The town's previous chief made $128,911 last year.

The Town of Dartmouth's police chief was hired last year at a salary of $122,000. Middleborough's chief makes just under $124,000.

The chief's salary in the Town of Plymouth is not based on a contract but instead on "grades" governed by personnel bylaws. The police chief's compensation range is from $88,412 to $108,524.

Even Stanley's North Andover salary is considerably above the approximately $109,500 in total compensation paid to Wareham's former long-time chief Thomas Joyce in Fiscal Year 2007.

In comparison, the Boston Police Commissioner is paid a salary of $171,468.