If you’re looking to become a police officer in Texas, you can expect to have many options for salary, benefits, and job opportunities. If you live near the border, working for the Border Patrol or as a law enforcement officer for local police departments may be an option for you.
The starting salary for police officers in Texas varies by city and county. In general, entry-level salaries are calculated as a percentage of an officer’s final annual salary. The starting salary for police officers in Texas is usually between $26,000 and $35,000 per year.
Starting Salary For Police Officer In Texas Overview
The starting salary for a police officer in Texas is $47,287 per year. In addition to this base salary, police officers can earn additional pay for working shifts that involve overtime, and some departments offer a shift differential for working nights or weekends.
Most police departments in Texas also offer a pension plan to their employees at no cost to them. This is a defined benefit plan that guarantees an employee a certain amount of money when they retire. The amount of money that an employee receives from the pension varies depending on their years of service and time in rank.
How much does a cop make in Texas?
According to Salary.com, the average yearly salary for a police officer working in the state of Texas is $56,400, as of September 25, 2020. Salary for this position can range, and will generally fall somewhere between $52,700 and $61,400 per year, the twenty-fifth and seventy-fifth percentiles of average salary data, respectively. However, salary could be as low as $49,331 per year (the tenth percentile of average salary data), and as high as $65,952 per year (the ninetieth percentile of average salary data). Average yearly salary for a police officer working in Texas is one thousand dollars less than the overall national average yearly salary, which is $57,400. Salary for police officers can vary due to several other influencing factors aside from location of employment, including level of education and years of experience. For example, a Texas police officer working with one to two years of experience can expect to make an average of $55,461 per year, while a Texas police officer working with seven to nine years of experience can expect to make an average of $56,013 per year.
Salaries – Effective Feb 1, 2022
| Steps | Salary |
|---|---|
| Recruit | $69,059.59 |
| Step 1 | $72,694.31 |
| Step 2 | $75,241.10 |
| Step 3 | $77,787.89 |
| Step 4 | $80,334.68 |
| Step 5 | $82,881.47 |
| Step 6 | $85,428.26 |
| Step 7 | $87,975.04 |
| Step 8 | $90,521.83 |
| Step 9 | $93,068.62 |
Benefits & Compensation
- Salary and benefits while attending the police academy.
- Paid sick leave and holidays.
- Fifteen days a year of paid vacation.
- Longevity pay.
- Education reimbursement up to 100%.
- Great work/life balance with twelve-hour shifts.
- Participation in the Texas Municipal Retirement System.
• Officer contribution 7% – City matches 2:1. - Life, health and dental Insurance.
- Furnished uniforms and equipment.
- Paid training.
- Vested after five years of service.
- Eligible for retirement after 20 years.
- Monthly Certification Pay – $50 Intermediate / $80 Advanced / $110 Master
- Monthly Education Pay – $50 Associates / $100 Bachelors / $150 Masters
Highest paying cities for Entry Level Police Officers in Texas
- Hewitt, TX$92,466 per year5 salaries reported
- Pearland, TX$84,799 per year6 salaries reported
- San Antonio, TX$76,841 per year6 salaries reported
