How to become a police officer in Nevada
In Nevada, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The Nevada Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training (POST) sets the statewide standards; the credential is POST Basic Certificate (Category I Peace Officer). At the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), new hires start at $65,874 a year, rising to $116,272 after about 20 years. You must be at least 21.
Pay at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD)
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $65,874 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $116,272 |
| Years to top | 20 |
LVMPD Police Recruit posting (opened 10/28/2026): recruit starting salary $63,128.00 during the academy; Police Officer I on academy completion $65,873.60; +4% merit at 6 months ($68,494.40) and 12 months ($71,240.00); Police Officer II at 18 months $72,633.60; Officer III 10 years after hire $103,313.60; Officer IV 15 years $111,800.00; Officer V 20 years $116,272.00. Figures exclude future COLAs and contract changes. LVMPD is a combined city-county department serving Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County.
Source:[governmentjobs.com]
Pay for this work across Nevada
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Nevada, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 5,720 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $62,250 |
| Median pay | $78,140 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $102,810 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma, GED or another approved high school equivalency assessment
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- Must be at least 21 at the time of appointment (NAC 289.110)
- Background investigation including employment, criminal history with fingerprints to the FBI, driving record, financial history, education, military, residences, drug screen, psychological evaluation, implicit-bias evaluation, and a lie detector exam for category I officers
- Medical examination by a licensed physician
- Disqualified for any felony conviction, a crime of moral turpitude or controlled-substance offense (except marijuana conduct now legal), a documented history of physical violence, or termination/resignation in lieu of termination for dishonesty
- Must be POST-certified within 1 year of starting work as a peace officer (one extension of up to 6 months possible) (NRS 289.550)
Source:[leg.state.nv.us]
Hiring process
- Background investigation (incl. fingerprints, driving and financial history)
- Lie detector (polygraph) exam
- Psychological evaluation and implicit-bias evaluation
- Drug screening
- Medical examination
- Category I basic training course (480 hours)
- State certification examination (70% to pass)
- State physical fitness examination
- POST basic certificate within 1 year of hire
Source:[leg.state.nv.us]
Entrance exam
Nevada POST state certification examination. Comprehensive exam prescribed by the Commission; passing score at least 70 percent (NAC 289.075, 289.200). Category I officers must also pass the state physical fitness exam: 14-inch vertical jump, 30 sit-ups in 1 minute, 23 push-ups, 300 m in 1:08, 1.5 miles in 16:57, agility run in 19.5 s (NAC 289.205).[leg.state.nv.us]
Required training
480 hours minimum. NAC 289.140: minimum standard for training category I (patrol, investigations, traffic, crash investigation) is a basic course that includes 480 hours of training. Category II is 200 hours, category III (corrections) 160 hours.[leg.state.nv.us]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Public Employees' Retirement System of Nevada (NVPERS), police/firefighter members
- Benefit formula: Average compensation x 2.5% for each year of service (police/firefighter members with membership on or after January 1, 2010); maximum 75% of average compensation, service credit ceasing at 30 years (NRS 286.551)
- When you can retire: Membership on or after July 1, 2015: age 65 with 5 years, age 60 with 10 years, or age 50 with 20 years of service; purchased service generally does not count toward eligibility (NRS 286.510)
Eligibility from https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-286.html#NRS286Sec510
Source:[leg.state.nv.us]