How to become a police officer in Maryland

Pay at the Baltimore Police Department

Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Baltimore Police Department, the largest city's agency.

BPD recruiting site (linked from baltimorepolice.org): 'As of 7/1/2026: Police Officer: $68,359 up to $124,316.' Extras listed: $10,000 signing bonus on graduation/field training, $12,000 relocation-to-Baltimore incentive ($1,000/month for a year), $5,000/year student loan assistance for new hires, degree pay incentives, property tax credit up to $2,500/year for officers living in the city. The six-month entry-level academy is paid.

Source:[joinbaltimorepd.org]

Pay for this work across Maryland

Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Maryland, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]

Requirements

• Minimum age: 21
• Education: High school diploma issued or recognized by the State Board of Education, or a GED certificate/diploma; an agency may accept a college degree instead
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen, or a permanent legal resident who is an honorably discharged U.S. Armed Forces veteran with a pending application for U.S. citizenship
• Must be 21 or older for provisional certification; may attend an academy while younger than 21 but may not perform law enforcement duties until 21
• Must be eligible under federal and Maryland law to possess and use a handgun
• Background investigation and criminal history check including fingerprints; investigation of prior use of controlled dangerous substances, narcotic drugs and marijuana
• Physical examination by a licensed medical doctor and a positive psychological evaluation by a mental health professional before selection
• Oral interview by the agency to assess ability to communicate
• Drug screening
• Valid driver's license and driving record review
• Agencies may set more restrictive standards

Source:[dsd.maryland.gov]

Hiring process

1. Agency application and oral interview
2. Background investigation with fingerprint criminal history check and drug-use history review
3. Drug screening
4. Medical examination and psychological evaluation
5. Driver's license and driving record check
6. Agency submits application for certification; provisional certification
7. Commission-approved entrance-level training program (minimum 850 hours)
8. Police officer certification

Source:[dsd.maryland.gov]

Required training

850 hours minimum. COMAR 12.04.01.09: 'A Commission-approved entrance-level training program is a minimum of 850 hours' (entrance-level firearms training hours may count toward it). Applicants must meet the academy's own qualification standards; the agency obtains a physical exam and an NCIC check before admission. Baltimore PD's academy is described as six months, paid.[dsd.maryland.gov]

Pension and retirement

• Plan: Maryland State Retirement and Pension System - Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System (LEOPS)
• Benefit formula: 2% of Average Final Compensation (average of the five highest consecutive earning years for members enrolled on or after July 1, 2011) for each year of creditable service, up to 32 years 6 months; maximum 65% of AFC
• When you can retire: Normal service retirement at age 50 regardless of service, or 25 years of eligibility service regardless of age; members enrolled on or after July 1, 2011 vest after 10 years

LEOPS covers State and certain local officers, including law enforcement officers of participating governmental units that elected to join on or after July 1, 1999. The LEOPS membership list names the Baltimore City Sheriff's Department but not the Baltimore Police Department; BPD's recruiting page describes its own plan as 'A pension after 25 years of service (60% of sworn member's salary)'.

Source:[sra.maryland.gov]