1

Police Jobs (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

Police information

See salary details

$24K

$60.6K

$84K

How much do police jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for police in the United States is $60,629.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,500.00 and $65,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Police Officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Police Officer, you need a solid understanding of criminal law, investigative procedures, and physical fitness, typically acquired through police academy training and, in many cases, a high school diploma or higher. Familiarity with law enforcement databases, body cameras, and radio communication systems is essential for effective fieldwork. Excellent judgment, strong communication, and resilience are vital soft skills for handling high-stress situations and interacting with diverse communities. These skills and qualities are crucial for upholding public safety, enforcing laws fairly, and building community trust.

What are some of the typical challenges police officers face during their daily shifts?

Police officers frequently encounter unpredictable situations that require quick thinking and adaptability, such as responding to emergency calls, handling disputes, or managing high-stress incidents. Balancing community engagement with enforcing laws can also be challenging, as officers must build trust while maintaining authority. Additionally, officers often work in shifts that include nights, weekends, and holidays, which can impact work-life balance. Despite these challenges, strong teamwork, ongoing training, and support from colleagues help officers navigate the complexities of the role.

What police position pays the most?

The highest-paying police positions are typically police chiefs or commissioners, who oversee entire departments and have extensive experience and leadership responsibilities. These roles often require advanced education, such as a master's degree, and many years of law enforcement experience. Salaries can vary widely depending on the size of the department and location but generally exceed $100,000 annually.

What does 4 fingers up mean for cops?

In law enforcement, holding up four fingers can symbolize the acknowledgment of four officers lost in the line of duty or represent a specific unit or rank depending on the department's traditions. It is often used as a sign of respect, remembrance, or solidarity among officers. The meaning can vary based on context and department culture.

How hard is it to get hired as a cop?

Getting hired as a police officer typically involves meeting minimum requirements such as age, education, and background checks, passing physical and written exams, and completing police academy training. The hiring process can be competitive and may take several months due to multiple interview stages and background investigations.

What is the difference between Police vs Security Guard?

AspectPoliceSecurity Guard
Required CredentialsPolice academy training, police academy certification, sometimes college degreeSecurity guard training, certification varies by state, sometimes no formal education required
Work EnvironmentLaw enforcement agencies, public spaces, crime scenes, emergency situationsPrivate properties, malls, events, corporate buildings
Employer & Industry UsageGovernment agencies, law enforcementPrivate security companies, businesses

Police officers and security guards both focus on safety and security, but police have law enforcement authority, undergo extensive training, and handle criminal investigations. Security guards primarily monitor property, prevent theft, and provide access control. The roles differ mainly in authority, training, and work environment.

What Do Police Officers Do?

Police officers are responsible for enforcing laws and meeting citation quotas in their jurisdiction. As a police officer, you patrol the community, investigate crime, make arrests, and issue citations for parking, traffic, and other minor violations. Your main duty is maintaining public order and protecting property. You may work independently or with a partner, and you complete your patrols in a car, on foot, by bicycle, or even on horseback. You have training in weapons use in case of any situation in which you fear for your safety.

Is 27 too late to become a cop?

Police departments often accept applicants up to their late 30s or early 40s, depending on the agency's age requirements and physical fitness standards. Age is less of a barrier if candidates meet the qualifications, pass background checks, and complete required training such as police academy. Many officers start their careers later in life and bring valuable experience to the role.

What are police officers?

Police officers are law enforcement professionals responsible for maintaining public order, enforcing laws, preventing crime, and protecting citizens and property. They respond to emergencies, investigate suspicious activities, and conduct patrols within their assigned areas. Police officers also work closely with communities to build trust and ensure safety, while upholding the law and safeguarding individual rights.
What cities are hiring for Police jobs? Cities with the most Police job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Police jobs? The most popular types of Police jobs are:
What states have the most Police jobs? States with the most job openings for Police jobs include:
Infographic showing various Police job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,629 per year, or $29.1 per hour.
Police Recruit

$64K - $92K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago


Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 35 rated police


Job description

The LVMPD is an EEO employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. Position Description ***BEFORE APPLYING, PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL DATES TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE TESTING PROCESS.*** Salary Information (Effective July 1, 2026):* Starting Annual Salary: $64,833.60 Upon completion of Academy (Police Officer I): $67,662.40 Six months after graduation (4% merit increase): $70,345.60 12 months after graduation (4% merit increase): $73,174.40 18 months after graduation (Police Officer II): $74,588.80 10 years after hire date (Police Officer III): $106,121.60 15 years after hire date (Police Officer IV): $114,816.00 20 years after hire date (Police Officer V): $119,412.80 *The above figures do not include future Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA), Public Employee Retirement System (NVPERS), or collective bargaining agreement changes. DEFINITION Incumbents attend, participate, and successfully complete the POST-certified Police Recruit Training Academy prior to being commissioned as a Police Officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Click here to view a complete copy of the class specification, including environmental and physical conditions. Minimum Qualifications/Position-Specific Conditions Training and Education Possession of a High School Diploma, High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) or General Education Diploma (GED). Possession of an appropriate, valid Nevada driver license at the time of hire.

Best Candidates Will Have Some courses/classroom credits beyond high school; Three or more years of public contact experience; At least one year of experience in law enforcement or criminal justice; Strong work history, including no terminations, minimal turnover and high commitment to employers; Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Leadership skills; Proficiency in speaking, understanding, reading and writing in Spanish; Flexible schedules; and A commitment to complete the Academy and Field Training. Special To This Classification Must be 20 years and 6 months of age by the date of the first exam. Must be a Citizen of the United States by the date of the first exam.

Must not be prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to any law, including NRS 202.360 or 18 U.S. Code 921-922. Must meet all minimum standards for appointment to perform duties of a peace officer under NAC 289.110

Conditions of Employment In addition to the General Conditions of Employment found here, the following specific conditions of employment and physical conditions apply to this position: Maintain physical fitness to meet all required physical standards for Police Recruit throughout the duration of the academy. Obey the laws of the State of Nevada, the County of Clark, and the City of Las Vegas. Successfully complete Police Recruit academy training.

Wear a uniform and maintain a neat and clean appearance. Purchase their own equipment required for this position. Purchase a vest upon graduation from academy.

Meet and maintain qualifications on firearms and other weapons. Participate in the Department's random drug screening process. Maintain a valid Nevada driver license.

Upon academy graduation, work any hours, days, or shifts, including holidays and weekends, as assigned and be subject to call-back or overtime requirements, if necessary, for effective operations of a 24/7 facility. Wear a body camera and vest, and other safety equipment. Work any hours, days, or shifts, including holidays and weekends.

Study the learning materials on off-duty time. Comply with the Department's rules and regulations. Adhere to the Department's values represented by the "ICARE" acronym.

Stay current on their training. Obtain/maintain a Nevada driver license, and register/maintain registration of personal vehicle with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety (DMV). Undergo a background investigation, which will include a polygraph, drug test, medical exam, standard hearing test and psychological testing.

Maintain physical fitness necessary to carry out job duties. Participate in the LVMPD Mental Wellness Program. Accept the requirements of the specific area of assignment.

Personal Appearance: While on duty, and/or representing the Department, uniformed or otherwise, all Department employees will be neat and clean in their appearance in public. Employees are prohibited from attaching, affixing, or displaying objects, articles or jewelry on or through the nose, tongue, eyebrow or other exposed body part, except the ears for females, while on duty. Employees are prohibited from stretching or "gauging" their earlobes.

All jewelry implants will not be exposed or visible while on duty. Tattoos or branding will not be exposed or visible while on duty and/or representing the Department. Such markings must be covered by clothing.

Markings that cannot be covered by clothing will be covered using neutral-toned bandages or patches except for hands, neck, head, or face tattoos. Makeup is not permissible to cover a tattoo. Tattoos or branding anywhere on the body that promote racism/discrimination, indecency, extremist or supremacist philosophies, lawlessness, violence, or contain sexually explicit material are prohibited.

All physical and mental conditions sufficient to meet all standards required for successful completion of the entire Police Recruit academy training, including but not limited to shooting a Department-approved firearm; deploying other Department-approved weapons; maintaining Department-approved firearms qualification; and engaging in defensive tactics. Vision sufficient to read the computer screen, as well as fine print in documents. Hearing sufficient to hear, discriminate, localize, and respond accordingly to a variety of speech and environmental sounds in a variety of situations, including face-to-face communications, telephone conversations, or radio communications, in accordance with Department standards.

Dexterity and mobility sufficient to perform the following: operate standard police and office equipment; operate motorized vehicles; climb stairs; sprint from one location to another during code response and run for an extended period of time. Agility sufficient to twist, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach forward, jump, and reach overhead. Strength sufficient to subdue and restrain persons and drag, lift, or carry persons or objects.

Endurance sufficient to perform the following: sit at personal computer terminals or in a vehicle for extended periods of time; stand and move around while working indoors or outdoors; wear a mask or other protection equipment for extended periods of time. Alertness sufficient to be aware of surroundings at all times. Selection Process Application Filing Applications must be submitted online and received by the posted closing date and time (PST).

Decisions on an applicant's qualifications for this position will be made solely on the information contained in the application and therefore, should be filled out in its entirety. To determine your status after submitting an employment application, you may access your account by going to https://www.governmentjobs.com/Applications/Index/lvmpd. Application Screening (Pass/Fail) Applications will be reviewed to determine those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications

These qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the remainder of the testing process set forth below. Applicants will be notified of the results of the screening process via email by 5:00 pm (PST) on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. It is your responsibility to confirm your eligibility to test for this position by contacting the OHR representative listed below in the Inquiries Section.

***We are now offering online testing for the Written Exam*** NOTE: All candidates will receive more information via email AFTER the posting closes that will include information on how to select the online Written Exam option. It is very important to read that email and all following emails very carefully. Anyone that selects the online Written Exam, will still need to take the Fitness Exam in-person on the below Fitness Exam date.

OPTION #1: Exam Dates* Exam #1: Online Written Exam (Weighted 100%) - More information will be provided after the posting closes. Exam #2: Fitness Exam (Pass/Fail) - See dates below OPTION #2: Exam Dates* Exam #1: Fitness Exam (Pass/Fail) - Saturday, August 15, 2026 Exam #2: Written Exam (Weighted 100%) - Saturday, August 15, 2026 OPTION #3: Exam Dates* Exam #1: Fitness Exam (Pass/Fail) - Wednesday, August 19, 2026 Exam #2: Written Exam (Weighted 100%) - Wednesday, August 19, 2026 *All candidates requiring both exams must come prepared to complete both the Written and Fitness Exams on the date listed above. *The LVMPD reserves the right to modify the selection processes and test instruments in accordance with accepted legal, ethical, and professional standards.

**Due to security reasons, personal belongings permitted in the testing facility will be limited. Items such as large backpacks, briefcases, duffle bags or similar items may not be allowed. Those items permitted will be left to the discretion of the LVMPD employees administering the examination and may be subject to a search.

***If you believe you are eligible for Veteran's Preference Points and want to be considered for them, you MUST attach your DD214, Member-2 or 4 or Statement/Proof of Service to your application showing 181 days of active duty, good standing and/or honorable discharge. This is the ONLY time your proof of military service will be accepted. For more information on Veteran's Preference Points, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the employment page at www.lvmpd.com

Helpful Tools A Study Guide is available to assist candidates in preparing for the above selection process. Click here to access the Study Guide. Pre-Hire Requirements Candidates who successfully complete the above selection process will undergo a thorough background investigation which will include an interview measuring suitability and motivation, polygraph, psychological evaluation, and medical exam.

A polygraph examination can be stressful and may affect existing medical or psychological conditions or ongoing treatment. Candidates are encouraged to consult with their personal physicians to discuss whether the polygraph will affect a condition or treatment and then follow the guidance of their medical professional. The background investigation takes approximately 90 to 120 days to complete.

You must also meet the LVMPD Hiring Standards. LVMPD employees participate in the Department's random drug screening process. For more information on the background process, click https://youtu.be/LpAUnwRbT9o for a quick video or https://www.protectthecity.com/applicants/employment-standards/background-investigation for specific information

If successful on this background process and selected for potential hire, you will be required to successfully complete the following before attending the Academy: Post-background NV POST Physical Fitness Exam for all candidates waiting longer than six months to start an academy. Candidates must successfully complete this prior to being given a conditional offer of employment. Local Candidates - scheduled at select times of their choice.

Out of State Candidates - scheduled automatically during the background process in conjunction with the medical exam. Pre-Academy NV POST Physical Fitness Exam - scheduled approximately two weeks prior to the Academy start date and is conducted by the Academy staff. Medical Exam - scheduled approximately five weeks prior to the Academy.

Candidates are given a conditional offer of employment which states the offer is contingent upon passing the medical exam and the pre-academy NV POST Fitness Exam. Two NV POST Physical Fitness Exam fails will result in a 6-month disqualification before being eligible to apply again. Any requests by a candidate to defer to a later academy must be approved by the Commander of the Office of Human Resources.

Academy and Field Training The LVMPD Police Recruit Academy will be held at the Jerry Keller Training Center, 9880 W. Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89129 over a 26- to 28-week period. Upon successful completion of the Academy, candidates will be assigned to the Field Training Program (FTEP) to complete 24 weeks of field training.

It is imperative that candidates prepare themselves for the rigorous demands of the Academy, both physically and mentally. Academically, the Academy is equivalent to a college classroom. This, coupled with the intense physical fitness each recruit must complete, can be very demanding.

Recruits should be prepared for this environment to increase their chances of successful completion. Additional Information Please visit the FAQs and General Conditions of Employment under Employment Standards available on our employment site for a listing of the LVMPD's open competitive selection and employment policies, and other pertinent information. Please visit www.protectthecity.com for additional information pertaining to the LVMPD and its hiring process

Inquiries Questions regarding this selection process may be directed to: LVMPD Recruiters, 702-828-5787, recruitment@lvmpd.com Daphne Diso, Human Resources Technician, m15434d@lvmpd.com Rosanne Sorboro Steiner, Analyst, r14786s@lvmpd.com If you require assistance or special accommodations during any part of the application process, contact Rosanne Sorboro Steiner at r14786s@lvmpd.com Vision: The vision of LVMPD is for the Las Vegas community to be the safest community in America. This vision is realized by injecting humanity into every interaction and building trust with the citizens we serve. Mission: The mission of the LVMPD is to provide exceptional police services in partnership with the community

Prioritizing the mental and physical well-being of employees enables our department to perform at exceptional levels and build meaningful relationships with community members. Values: The acronym "I CARE" is the guiding principle for each and every LVMPD member. This acronym represents the values of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department: Integrity, Courage, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.

The values are supported by behaviors, demonstrated by the actions of members, as they live these values. All members are expected to represent the values of the LVMPD while in the workplace and off-duty. EEO: The LVMPD is an equal opportunity employer.

All appointments to the competitive service shall be made withoutregard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, military service,or political affiliation and shall be based on ...


What Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom