Guide
Police Hiring and Lateral Bonuses by Department
Published
Of the 97 police agencies in this guide, 23 advertise a hiring bonus, a lateral-entry bonus or both on an official page. New-hire bonuses appear at 14 agencies, including Stockton Police Department in California, and 15 offer experienced lateral officers a bonus or a higher starting step.
Bonuses are usually split into installments tied to finishing the academy, probation or a set number of years, and most must be repaid if the officer leaves early.
Hiring bonuses for new officers
| Department | State | Hiring bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton Police Department | California | Sign on Bonus - $15,000 (new employees), plus relocation assistance reimbursement |
| Long Beach Police Department | California | $15,000 recruit/academy graduate incentive paid in three parts, plus up to $24,000 childcare and up to $24,000 housing subsidy |
| Sacramento Police Department | California | $10,000 home buying incentive toward a house in Sacramento (after academy graduation) |
| Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia | District of Columbia | $25,000 ($15,000 at academy start + $10,000 at graduation; two-year service agreement) |
| Florida Highway Patrol | Florida | $5,000 bonus for those not certified in Florida (Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program) |
| Lexington Police Department | Kentucky | $3,000 bonus upon successfully completing the Lexington Police Department Training Academy |
| Baltimore Police Department | Maryland | $10,000 signing bonus upon successfully passing field training; $12,000 relocation incentive ($1,000 per month for one year) for moving to Baltimore City |
| Portland Police Bureau | Oregon | $5,000 |
| Philadelphia Police Department | Pennsylvania | $2,000 sign-on bonus |
| South Carolina Highway Patrol | South Carolina | $10,000 sign-on bonus for field troopers in Critical Market Areas, paid in five installments (first $1,500 after training) |
| Utah Highway Patrol | Utah | $3,500 signing bonus paid on completing the academy/POST certification (applications November 2026 and after); $5,000 training reimbursement for recent self-sponsored Utah POST satellite academy graduates |
| Vermont State Police | Vermont | $5,000 sign-on bonus, paid out over the first year |
| Virginia State Police | Virginia | Up to $10,000 hiring bonus (contact a recruiter for terms) |
| Wyoming Highway Patrol | Wyoming | $2,000 |
Lateral officers
A lateral officer already holds police certification from another agency. Departments recruit laterals with signing bonuses, credit for prior service on the step schedule, or both.
| Department | State | Lateral offer |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach Police Department | California | $30,000 lateral incentive paid in three parts (up to $78,000 with subsidies) |
| Riverside Police Department | California | $10,000 plus 40 hours vacation |
| Colorado Springs Police Department | Colorado | Lateral officers join as Police Officer 2nd ($42.95 per hour) |
| Tampa Police Department | Florida | Starting pay up to $89,336 with prior experience |
| Jacksonville Sheriff's Office | Florida | Officers with 3+ years of full-time law enforcement service (Florida, or out-of-state/federal with FDLE equivalency) are hired at Step 3. |
| Atlanta Police Department | Georgia | Lateral officers start at $66,395 or higher depending on prior law enforcement experience |
| Raleigh Police Department | North Carolina | One-time lateral incentive up to $5,000 ($2,500 or $5,000 by experience); lateral pay $64,209 to $81,948 by years of experience |
| Oklahoma Highway Patrol | Oklahoma | Lateral troopers with 2+ years certified service start at Step 2 Trooper pay |
| Portland Police Bureau | Oregon | Lateral range $97K-$120K; relocation reimbursement up to $10,000 |
| South Carolina Highway Patrol | South Carolina | Up to 15 years of certified law enforcement service may be credited for higher starting pay |
| Utah Highway Patrol | Utah | $3,500 hiring bonus for prior law enforcement experience; prior sworn experience matched one-for-one up to 13 years |
| Vermont State Police | Vermont | Officers with a full-time academy and 3 years uninterrupted full-time service may start at $88,352.00, rising to $91,916.20 after six months and $95,078.80 after the first year |
| Virginia State Police | Virginia | Certified officers attend a 5-week accelerated lateral program with a starting salary of up to $89,417 based on experience and assignment |
| Virginia Beach Police Department | Virginia | $10,000 hiring bonus for certified officers and deputies; certified lateral starting pay $61,734 to $104,312 |
| Wisconsin State Patrol | Wisconsin | For lateral hires, salary is dependent on years of service |
Before you count on a bonus
Bonus offers change often, sometimes mid-year. Treat the amounts here as a starting point and confirm the current terms with the agency’s recruiting office.
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.