How to become a police officer in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) sets the statewide standards; the credential is Municipal Police Officer Certification (Act 120). At the Philadelphia Police Department, new hires start at $69,973 a year, rising to $104,191 after about 5 years. You must be at least 18.
Pay at the Philadelphia Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Philadelphia Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $69,973 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $104,191 |
| Years to top | 5 |
PPD recruiting site (linked from phillypolice.com): "The current yearly starting salary for a Police Officer Recruit in the Police Academy is $69,973. After 6 months, you receive a pay increase to $74,831. There are scheduled increases in pay to the present maximum of $104,191 after 5 years of service." Excludes uniform allowance and holiday pay; $2,000 sign-on bonus; longevity raises accrue later.
Source:[joinphillypd.com]
Pay for this work across Pennsylvania
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Pennsylvania, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 26,510 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $48,680 |
| Median pay | $85,470 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $109,780 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- Free from convictions of disqualifying criminal offenses
- Read at no less than ninth-grade level on the Nelson-Denny Reading Test
- Medical examination by a Pennsylvania-licensed physician, PA or CRNP, including drug/alcohol lab testing
- Psychological examination by a Pennsylvania-licensed psychologist including the MMPI
- Physical fitness at or above the 30th percentile of the Cooper Institute standards in each event
- Background investigation: fingerprints to the state Central Repository and FBI, credit history, 3 personal references, 5-year employment history, driving record with valid driver's license
- Complete a Commission-certified basic police training course (or waiver), qualify with firearms at 75%, hold First Aid and CPR, attend 100% of classes
Source:[pacodeandbulletin.gov]
Hiring process
- Nelson-Denny reading test
- Physical fitness test (Cooper 30th percentile)
- Medical examination with drug testing
- Psychological examination (MMPI)
- Background investigation by the employing department
- Act 120 basic police training at a certified academy (919 hours)
- 200-question state certification exam
- Hire by a municipal police department and certification application
Source:[pacodeandbulletin.gov]
Entrance exam
MPOETC state certification exam. 200-question state certification exam taken after basic training (also used for waiver-of-training candidates, 37 Pa. Code 203.12). Fee waived for applicants employed or holding a conditional offer from a Pennsylvania police department.[pa.gov]
Required training
919 hours minimum. MPOETC: "The 919-hour curriculum is organized into modules that blend classroom learning with hands-on practice." Taught at Commission-certified academies; 100% attendance required. Two failed tested areas in one course means retaking the whole course.[pa.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: City of Philadelphia Municipal Pension Fund (no statewide plan for municipal police in Pennsylvania)
- Benefit formula: 2.2% of average compensation per year for the first 20 years of service, 2.0% per year beyond 20 years
- When you can retire: Any age with 25 consecutive years (54% of average total compensation); age 50 with at least 10 years (vested)
Pennsylvania municipal police pensions are run by each municipality; figures shown are Philadelphia's as described on the PPD recruiting site. Officers contribute by biweekly payroll deduction from the first day of training; vested after ten years.
Source:[joinphillypd.com]