Entry Level Port Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $92,185.00 - $127,660.00 Annually
Location : CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CA
Job Type: FULL-TIME
Job Number: 3221 O 2026/06/26
Department: Harbor
Opening Date: 06/26/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
DUTIES
ANNUAL SALARY
$92,185 - $127,660
NOTE:
Salary range applies to Port Police Officer I & II. Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
DUTIES
A Port Police Officer is a sworn peace officer, authorized to carry a firearm who enforces federal and state regulations, City of Los Angeles ordinances, and security, traffic, and safety rules and regulations; engages in law enforcement activities, including uniformed foot, vehicle, boat, motorcycle, bicycle patrol and plainclothes assignments, arrest, and report writing at the Port of Los Angeles; provides information to the public regarding locations and operations of the Department; engages in hazardous materials enforcement; and does related work.
REQUIREMENT(S)/MINIMUM QUALIFICATION(S)

1. At least 20 years of age at the time of application and 21 years of age by police academy graduation; and
2. Graduation from a U.S. high school, G.E.D. or equivalent from a U.S. institution, or a California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) certificate is required. A two or four year college degree from an accredited U.S. or foreign institution may be substituted for the high school requirements. Documentation demonstrating that the institution is accredited must be submitted prior to taking the written test; and
3. Legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.

PROCESS NOTES

1. In addition to the regular City application, all applicants MUST complete the entry-level Peace Officer Supplemental Questionnaire at the time of filing. The entry-level Peace Officer Supplemental Questionnaire is located within the Supplemental Questions section of the City application. Applicants who fail to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire will not be considered further in this examination, and their application will not be processed.
2. Applicants MUST review the corresponding "Essential Duties and Work Conditions for Entry-level Peace Officers" for critical, detailed information about the entry-level Peace Officer position duties and work conditions. The document is available on-line at https://personnel.lacity.gov/doc.cfm?get=EntryLevelPeaceOfficerDuties.
3. As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of appointment. Applicants will be disqualified or deemed ineligible for hire if their DMV record reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation within the last 36 months in any state or jurisdiction. The City of Los Angeles reserves the right to issue a notice of disqualification or ineligibility at any time before a final job offer is extended.
4. Candidates MUST currently meet or be able to meet all standards set forth by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (CA POST) to be considered for the position of Port Police Officer.
5. Any history of illegal drug use may be evaluated during the background investigation and can result in disqualification depending on the type of substance, frequency, and recency of use. Ongoing compliance with the City's drug and alcohol policies is required as a condition of employment.
6. Because this class has been designated as Safety Sensitive in accordance with City Policy, a drug and alcohol screening test shall be required prior to appointment and during employment.
7. Applicants will be disqualified from the Port Police Officer examination if any of the following events apply: (1) they have been decertified by the California POST Commission by a revocation or voluntary surrender of their certification; (2) they are ineligible to serve as a peace officer pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code section 1029 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1029&lawCode=GOV); or (3) they fail to requalify for POST certification or obtain a valid waiver at the time of submission of their employment application for the position of Port Police Officer. (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=13510.8&lawCode=PEN).
8. Candidates must comply with all current Department grooming and appearance policies, including, but not limited to policies related to tattoos and/or brandings, as outlined in the LAPD Manual Section 605, Airport Police Manual Chapter 6, and LA Port Police Manuael Section 1044.
9. Candidates completing the selection process are required to provide proof of qualifying documentation. Applicants who received their high school diploma or college or university degrees from within the United States must attach a copy of their qualifying U.S. high school diploma or U.S. school transcripts to their on-line application at the time of filing in the Attachments section. Applicants must attach qualifying U.S. high school diploma or U.S. school transcripts BEFORE finalizing and submitting the application. Applicants WILL NOT be able to attach qualifying U.S. high school diploma or U.S. school transcripts AFTER submitting the application. Applicants who fail to attach qualifying U.S. high school diploma or U.S. school transcripts at the time of filing WILL NOT be considered further in this examination and their applications WILL NOT be processed.
10. Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency if your college or university degree was earned within the United States. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at https://personnel.lacity.gov/Accredited%20institutions%2008-21-08.pdf.
11. For applicants with foreign education credentials: A high school diploma received outside of the United States will not be accepted to satisfy the education requirement for this classification. Applicants who attempt to use a foreign high school diploma to qualify WILL NOT be considered further in this examination and their applications WILL NOT be processed.
12. For applicants with foreign education credentials: If your college or university degree was earned outside the United States, it must be evaluated for U.S. educational equivalency to move forward in the selection process. To be considered further, you must attach a copy of your credential evaluation report from an active member of either NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc.) BEFORE finalizing and submitting the application. Applicants WILL NOT be able to attach a copy of their credential evaluation report AFTER submitting the application. Applicants who fail to attach a copy of their credential evaluation report at the time of filing WILL NOT be considered further in this examination and their applications WILL NOT be processed.

WHERE TO APPLY & APPLICATION DEADLINE
THE SELECTION PROCESS IS STARTED by completing two separate Public Safety On-line applications. The first of these can be submitted by creating a profile and completing the application on myPD.joinlapd.com. Any applicants who wish to apply for the Port Police Officer classification should select "Port" in the "Application Type" section. After the myPD application has been submitted, a Government Jobs application must be submitted via the Police Officer (2214) posting. This second application can be accessed at the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacity. Although this application is specific to the Police Officer classification, applicants will have the opportunity to file for the Port Police Officer examination by selecting "Port" when prompted to indicate which department(s) for which they are submitting their application in the Supplemental Questionnaire.
NOTE:
If you should apply for an entry-level, sworn public safety examination with test part(s) deemed by the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department to be the same as this examination, the test scores, test dates, test re-take allowances, and test expiration dates you receive in the common test parts may be applied to the other examination.
SELECTION PROCESS
Examination Weight: Multiple-Choice Test - Qualifying
Physical Abilities Test (PAT) - Qualifying
Interview - 100%
The examination will consist of a qualifying multiple-choice test, a qualifying Physical Abilities Test (PAT), and an interview. The qualifying multiple-choice test will evaluate factors including spelling, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and clarity. Your passing score does not expire. The multiple-choice test may be proctored and administered on-line or in-person. Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the multiple-choice test.
FAQs for on-line testing are available at https://per.lacity.org/faqs/employment-testing-process.html.
All candidates who waive or receive a passing score on the multiple-choice test will be invited to participate in the qualifying Physical Abilities Test (PAT), which evaluates the ability to perform physically demanding tasks-including maximum sit-ups in one minute, a 300-meter sprint, maximum push-ups in one minute, and a 1.5-mile run-under stressful conditions to measure the endurance, agility, and strength necessary for law enforcement duties. Your performance in these four events determines your overall pass/fail score, with a passing result valid for 12 months; failing to attempt any of the four events will result in an automatic fail. You must pass the PAT to be scheduled for an interview; if you fail, you may retake it after 30 days, but failing to appear for any scheduled PAT prevents you from applying for this or other City of Los Angeles entry-level peace officer examinations for 12 months. Candidates will be notified by e-mail regarding the date, time, and location of the PAT, which is held in a single half-day session in or near Los Angeles.
Candidates who pass the Physical Abilities Test will be invited for an Interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Personal Accomplishment; Job Motivation; Community Involvement/Awareness; Problem Solving Skills; Interpersonal Skills; and Oral Communication Skills. Your interview score will determine your rank on the eligible list. Your passing score will expire after 12 months. The interview may be conducted on-line or in-person. Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interview.
Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to and clicking on Competencies under Port Police Officer/Port Police Specialist.
ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION
PHYSICAL ABILITIES TEST: In order to better prepare for the exam and the physical demands of the academy, you are strongly encouraged to join the Candidate Fitness Training Program (CFTP) to assist with mentorship and preparation. Being part of CFTP will significantly increase your success in the academy. Attending the CFTP will also make transitioning to Academy life much easier. Information regarding CFTP can be found on-line at Join the Los Angeles Port Police | Employment | Port of Los Angeles or by emailing
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: The investigation begins with the completion of a Personal History Statement (PHS) and will include fingerprinting and a background interview. The investigation also includes checks of employment, police, financial, education, and military records and interviews with family members, neighbors, supervisors, co-workers, and friends. Findings are valid for 12 months. A polygraph examination will be conducted prior to your field investigation to confirm information obtained during the selection process. The processing guidelines for the polygraph examination may be revised periodically. All candidates will be processed according to the current guidelines, not the guidelines which were in place when they applied.
Any conviction by a state, the federal government, or a foreign government of a crime, the punishment for which would have been imprisonment in a federal penitentiary or the state prison (felony) will result in a disqualification. Note: Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving domestic violence from carrying a firearm.
MEDICAL EVALUATION: Consists of a thorough evaluation by a City physician. It is essential that you be in excellent health, with no conditions that would restrict your ability to safely perform the work of a Port Police Officer. A cardiac stress test may be required. To remain medically qualified, you must maintain your good health during the period following the medical examination. Medical examination results are valid for up to 12 months, at the discretion of the City's medical staff. Part of the medical evaluation includes a PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION by a City psychologist. This evaluation consists of written tests and an individual oral interview. You will be evaluated on the psychological factors related to successful job performance to determine if you are suited for the difficult and stressful occupation of Port Police Officer. The results of the oral psychological evaluation are valid for 12 months. Your written psychological tests are valid for up to 24 months, at the discretion of the City's psychological staff. In conjunction with the medical and psychological evaluation processes, the Medical Services Division may require access to medical and/or psychological records that directly pertain to your fitness for duty as a peace