Guide
How Long Does It Take Police to Reach Top Pay?
Published
It takes a median of 7 years for an officer to reach top-step base pay, among 35 agencies that publish the timeline. Colorado Springs Police Department gets officers there fastest, in 3 years, while Chicago Police Department takes 25 years.
A short schedule is not always better. Some agencies with long schedules pay a higher final step, so the total earned over a career can come out ahead.
Years to reach top-step police pay
View chart data
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Colorado Springs Police Department | 3 yrs |
| Denver Police Department | 3.5 yrs |
| Corpus Christi Police Department | 3.5 yrs |
| Kansas Highway Patrol | 4 yrs |
| Columbus Division of Police | 4 yrs |
| Seattle Police Department | 4.5 yrs |
| Oakland Police Department | 5 yrs |
| Iowa State Patrol | 5 yrs |
| Detroit Police Department | 5 yrs |
| Philadelphia Police Department | 5 yrs |
| Memphis Police Department | 5 yrs |
| Plano Police Department | 5 yrs |
| Washington State Patrol | 5 yrs |
| New York City Police Department | 5.5 yrs |
| North Carolina State Highway Patrol | 6 yrs |
| Oregon State Police | 6 yrs |
| Minnesota State Patrol | 7 yrs |
| Oklahoma City Police Department | 7 yrs |
| Wisconsin State Patrol | 7 yrs |
| Portland Police Bureau | 8 yrs |
| Idaho State Police | 9 yrs |
| Dallas Police Department | 9 yrs |
| Tampa Police Department | 10 yrs |
| Michigan State Police | 10 yrs |
| Fort Worth Police Department | 14 yrs |
| Albuquerque Police Department | 15 yrs |
| South Carolina Highway Patrol | 15 yrs |
| Jacksonville Sheriff's Office | 17 yrs |
| Louisiana State Police | 20 yrs |
| Maryland State Police | 20 yrs |
| Arlington Police Department | 20 yrs |
| Texas Department of Public Safety | 20 yrs |
| Austin Police Department | 23 yrs |
| Louisville Metro Police Department | 24 yrs |
| Chicago Police Department | 25 yrs |
Start, top and the climb between them
What moves an officer up the schedule
Most departments grant a step each year of satisfactory service. Some front-load raises in the first five years, then space out the last steps, and a few tie steps to completing probation or field training.
Longevity pay often kicks in after the top step, so pay can keep rising after the schedule ends. Check each department page for the full step table.
Figures come from the official pay schedules linked on each state and department page. Agencies revise pay plans, so confirm the fiscal year and step rules with the official source before you rely on a number.