How to become a police officer in Montana
In Montana, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The Montana Public Safety Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council sets the statewide standards; the credential is Peace Officer Basic Certificate. At the Billings Police Department, new hires start at $69,056 a year, rising to $98,155 after about 19 years. You must be at least 18.
Pay at the Billings Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Billings Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $69,056 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $98,155 |
| Years to top | 19 |
Billings Police officer pay: year 1 $33.20/hr to year 20 $47.19/hr (hourly × 2080), from the department's current officer page.
Source:[billingsmt.gov]
Pay for this work across Montana
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Montana, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 2,160 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $55,330 |
| Median pay | $70,050 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $84,150 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school graduate or high school equivalency diploma issued by the superintendent of public instruction or another state or federal issuing agency
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- Fingerprinted with local, state and national records search
- Not convicted of a crime for which the person could have been imprisoned in a federal or state penitentiary
- Good moral character per a thorough background investigation
- Mental health evaluation by a licensed physician or mental health professional selected by the employer
- Physical examination by a licensed health care provider selected by the employer
- Oral examination by the appointing authority
- Possess or be eligible for a valid Montana driver's license
- Complete the POST-approved peace officer basic course within 1 year of appointment (extensions up to 180 days)
- Basic certificate issued after meeting standards and completing a 1-year probationary term
Source:[archive.legmt.gov]
Hiring process
- Agency application
- Fingerprint records check and background investigation
- Oral examination by the appointing authority
- Mental health evaluation
- Physical examination
- Appointment and notice to POST within 10 days
- Peace officer basic course at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (or approved college academy) within 1 year
- 1-year probation, then POST basic certificate
Source:[archive.legmt.gov]
Required training
12 weeks. Montana Law Enforcement Academy: 'The Law Enforcement Officer Basic (LEOB) Course is an intensive 12-week course which is offered three times a year', with online and in-person training; accredited by the POST Council. Read from a Wayback copy dated 2026-10-09 (live site blocks automated access). No hour total was stated.[dojmt.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Montana Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System (MPORS), administered by MPERA
- Benefit formula: 2.5% x years of service credit x Final Average Compensation (average monthly compensation for the last 36 months of service)
- When you can retire: 20 years of membership service at any age, or age 50 with five years of membership service
MPERA page states the service rules are based on 2017 law. Billings packet: employee contributes 9% of salary to MPORS, city 14.41%; vesting at 5 years. MPERA notes the ban on other mandatory police retirement plans 'does not apply to social security' but does not say whether MPORS members are covered.
Source:[mpera.mt.gov]