How to become a police officer in Arizona
In Arizona, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) sets the statewide standards; the credential is Full-authority peace officer certified status (AZPOST). At the Phoenix Police Department, new hires start at $75,847 a year, rising to $109,984. You must be at least 21.
Pay at the Phoenix Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Phoenix Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $75,847 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $109,984 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-06 |
City of Phoenix Salary Range Report (data as of 10/26/26), Police Officer job code 62210, grade 007: $36.47/hr ($75,847.20) to $52.88/hr ($109,984.16), 9 steps ($36.46 to $52.87). Recruits are paid as Police Recruit (job 62200): $34.39-$36.12/hr ($71,531.20-$75,129.60). Under the 2026-2028 PLEA (Unit 4) MOU, eligible members advance one step per year, which implies top step after about 8 years. Pay Ordinance S-53059 effective 7/6/26.
Source:[phoenix.gov]
Pay for this work across Arizona
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Arizona, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 12,010 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $60,990 |
| Median pay | $78,880 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $98,560 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma, GED, recognized homeschool diploma, qualifying Arizona private-school credential, or an accredited college degree
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- May attend an academy if 21 before graduating
- Complete background investigation (R13-4-106), including fingerprint check; cannot graduate until a qualifying background report is complete
- Medical examination (R13-4-107) within one year before appointment
- No felony conviction (or offense that would be a felony in Arizona)
- No dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces
- No prior denial, revocation, suspension or surrender of peace officer certification for conduct that violates R13-4-109(A)
- No illegal marijuana possession/use in the past two years, no illegal dangerous-drug/narcotic use in the past seven years, never sold/produced drugs, no pattern of prescription abuse
- Polygraph examination unless prohibited by law
- No pattern of moving traffic violations in the past three years
- Sign the law enforcement code of ethics
Source:[law.cornell.edu]
Hiring process
- Agency application
- Background investigation with fingerprint check
- Polygraph examination
- Medical examination
- Appointment and Board-approved full-authority basic training course at an academy
- Pass all sections of the AZPOST Comprehensive Examination (CE)
- AZPOST certification
Source:[law.cornell.edu]
Entrance exam
AZPOST Comprehensive Examination (CE). R13-4-110 (effective 9/5/2025): to be certified as a full-authority peace officer an individual must complete the Board-approved basic course and pass all sections of the CE, scoring at least 70% on each section; sections are given at intervals during the course, the last in its final two weeks. A failed section may be retaken within seven days; failing the retake means repeating the basic course.[law.cornell.edu]
Required training
672.25 hours minimum. AZPOST Basic Training page: the Basic Training Curriculum (200+ lesson plans) spans 672.25 hours. AZPOST's academy FAQ (older) says academies must provide a minimum of 585 hours for full-authority officers. R13-4-116: a student absent more than 32 hours from the full-authority course may not graduate.[post.az.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) - Tier 3
- Benefit formula: Tier 3 DB: average monthly benefit compensation (highest 60 consecutive months within the last 15 years) x credited service x multiplier (1.50% for 15-16.99 years, 1.75% for 17-18.99, 2.00% for 19-21.99, 2.25% for 22-24.99, 2.50% for 25+), up to 80% of average monthly benefit compensation
- When you can retire: Normal retirement at age 55 with 15 or more years of credited service; early (actuarially reduced) at age 52.5 with 15 years
Tier 3 = hired into a PSPRS position on/after July 1, 2017. Members choose DB + DC hybrid (hybrid applies to non-Social Security positions; 3% employee/3% employer) or DC only (minimum 9% employee, 9% employer match, employer share vests 10% per year). COLA for Tier 3 DB is payable after 7 years of retirement or age 60 and depends on funding level.
Source:[psprs.com]