Texas Department of Public Safety

Starting pay: $5,872.97 monthly or $70,475.64 yearly, based upon the calculation of a current 10-hour day, 50-hour work week.   Physical Readiness/Written Test Deadline A-2027: June  15, 2026 Applicant must apply online and complete the PRT/Written tests by the deadline for consideration to the A-2027 Recruit School.   The duty of this position requires the applicant to live on campus. The length of the Recruit School is 30 weeks. The training will include some weekends. The training challenges the recruits both mentally and physically, including a strenuous physical fitness program.   After  Recruit Graduation, you will receive a stipend check for $5000.  If an employee receiving a recruitment bonus under this section discontinues employment, the employee shall refund the Department an amount to be determined by Human Resources.    During the duration of the school, the Recruit will earn $70,475.64 ($5,872.97 monthly) and upon graduation will advance to Probationary Trooper and will earn $76,231.32 ($6,352.61 monthly).    Peace officers are defined by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 2A.001.   Probationary Trooper who successfully completes the twelve (12) month probationary period including the required Field Training Program (FTO) as defined by the Department, will advance to Trooper I salary of $90,545.04 ($7,545.40 monthly) until they reach four (4) years of law enforcement experience to be eligible to advance to the Trooper II salary.    Troopers completing the required Field Training Program (FTO) as defined by the Department and have at least four (4) years of verified full-time prior experience as a full-time peace officer in any state within the United States will advance to Trooper II salary of $110,376.72 ($9,198.06 monthly).   Troopers completing the required Field Training Program (FTO) as defined by the Department and have less than four (4) years of verified full-time experience as a peace officer in any state within the United States will advance to Trooper I Salary of $90,545.04 ($7,545.42 monthly) until they reach four (4) years of combined law enforcement experience at which time they will advance to Trooper II salary.   Prior law enforcement service is not applicable to promotions, transfers, determining seniority or other matters in which years of service within DPS are relevant all new Troopers hired under this provision are subject to the one-year probationary period from the date of graduation from the Trooper Trainee Academy.     Career progression has been established for these positions which will enable the employee to promote to the higher levels of Probationary Trooper and Trooper I - VI upon successful completion of qualifying work experience.   Job shifts and hours vary (day/evening/night) and can be 40 hours or more per week.       Qualifications   GENERAL DUTIES: The duties of this position require the applicant to live on campus. The training will include some weekends. The training challenges the Recruit both mentally and physically, including a strenuous physical fitness program.   Duties upon completion of the Academy include apprehending traffic law violators, investigating most rural traffic crashes, recovering stolen vehicles/stolen property, apprehending wanted persons, and assisting other agencies. Troopers will perform other duties as assigned to fulfill the responsibilities of a Texas State Trooper.   All of the applicants who complete the training and graduate from the academy will be assigned to the Texas Highway Patrol. Duty Station assignments will be given during the Recruit School and will be based upon the needs of the Department. Applicants must be willing to accept assignment anywhere in Texas.   EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Applicants must be at least twenty (20) years of age to apply and must be 21 years of age at the time they graduate from the academy class and are promoted to the position of Probationary Trooper.   There is no maximum age limit.   Applicants must have a minimum of 60 college earned hours from a regional accredited college or university or an associate degree.   Academic requirements may be substituted by National Guard personnel who have accumulated 730 retirement points or have 6 years' service in the Reserve or National Guard.   Applicants that currently hold a valid Texas Peace Officer license or who have received an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces with a minimum of twenty-four (24) months of active duty must be able to show proof of graduating from high school or its equivalent or have obtained a GED, if no other academic requirements are being met.   Applicant may combine approved work experience with college earned hours to meet the minimum requirements. Applicant may substitute fifteen (15) academic semester hours, which are equivalent to six (6) months of work experience or any combination of approved relative work experience and academic achievement to meet the minimum requirements of 60 college earned hours or 24 months of approved work experience.   Applicants must qualify on written/physical demands tests and are required to successfully complete polygraph examination, background investigation, psychological testing, physical/vision examinations, and drug screening.