How to become a police officer in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, with the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) sets the statewide standards; the credential is POST Commission law enforcement officer certification (M.G.L. c. 6E, s. 4). At the Boston Police Department, new hires start at $70,764 a year, rising to $95,045 after about 20 years. You must be at least 21.
Pay at the Boston Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Boston Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $70,764 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $95,045 |
| Years to top | 20 |
| Scale effective | 2024-07-06 |
City of Boston BPPA Executive Order and Salary Scale 2020-2024, Police Officer salary chart effective July 6, 2024 (marked 'draft salary scales and rounding may occur'): weekly base 1st year $1,360.84 (x 52 = $70,763.68), 2nd year $1,517.33, 3rd year $1,673.94 ($87,044.88); longevity raises base to $1,712.40 at 5 years, $1,750.86 at 10, $1,789.32 at 15 and $1,827.79 at 20 years ($95,045.08). The chart's annual totals including shift differential, TCAP, holiday and $800 uniform pay run from $81,046.86 (1st year, days) to $132,164.58 (25-year longevity); education incentives add 10%/20%/25% for associate's/bachelor's/master's. A BPPA MOA for 2025-2026 is posted (scanned) and is not reflected here.
Source:[boston.gov]
Pay for this work across Massachusetts
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Massachusetts, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 17,040 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $61,160 |
| Median pay | $78,940 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $108,150 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school education or equivalent, as determined by the POST Commission
- Successful completion of the basic training program approved by the Municipal Police Training Committee
- Physical and psychological fitness evaluation approved by the POST Commission
- State and national background check including fingerprinting and full employment history (prior law enforcement record, complaints and discipline evaluated)
- Passage of an examination approved by the Commission
- Current first aid and CPR certificates or equivalent
- Oral interview administered by the Commission
- Good moral character and fit for employment in law enforcement
- No certificate for anyone convicted of a felony or listed in the National Decertification Index or the Commission's decertified-officer database; certification expires after 3 years
- Boston (civil service): must be 19-39 on the civil service exam date and 21 on entering the academy, have a valid Massachusetts driver's license and be a Boston resident for at least one year before the exam (https://www.boston.gov/departments/police/how-become-police-officer)
Source:[malegislature.gov]
Hiring process
- Massachusetts Civil Service police officer written exam (civil service communities such as Boston)
- Apply from the civil service eligible list during an open hiring period
- Application packet, background check, drug test and Recruit Investigations Unit review
- Conditional offer; medical and psychological exams
- Civil Service Physical Abilities Test (PAT) and MPTC Recruit Officer Course entry-level fitness standards (push-ups, plank, 1.5-mile run, 300-meter run)
- Final offer and MPTC-approved recruit academy (Boston Police Academy: paid, 29 weeks)
- POST Commission certification
Source:[boston.gov]
Entrance exam
Massachusetts Civil Service police officer exam. Statewide written entrance exam held annually for civil service police departments such as Boston; $75 fee (waivers available); a score is valid up to two years. M.G.L. c. 6E s. 4(f)(1)(vi) separately requires 'passage of an examination approved by the commission' for POST certification.[boston.gov]
Required training
800 hours minimum, 20 weeks.[web.archive.org]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Boston Retirement System (M.G.L. c. 32 contributory retirement; police in Group 4)
- Benefit formula: Group 4 members who joined on or after April 2, 2012: age factor x years of service x highest 5-year average pay, max 80%; the factor reaches 2.5% at age 57+ (with 30+ years of service), falling to 1.625% at age 50 (lower factors apply with under 30 years)
- When you can retire: Members who joined on or after April 2, 2012 (Group 4): minimum retirement age 50 with at least 10 years of creditable service; the any-age-with-20-years option applies only to members who joined before April 2, 2012
Source:[mass.gov]