How to become a police officer in South Carolina
In South Carolina, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA) / Law Enforcement Training Council sets the statewide standards; the credential is Class 1 Law Enforcement Officer certification. At the Charleston Police Department, new hires start at $58,115 a year, rising to $64,230 after about 4 years. You must be at least 21.
Pay at the Charleston Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Charleston Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $58,115 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $64,230 |
| Years to top | 4 |
CPD recruiting site (linked from charleston-sc.gov), high school/GED rates: Probationary Police Officer Step 1 $58,115.20, Step 2 $59,592.00; PPOs convert to Police Officer after two years: PO Step 1 $61,110.40, Step 2 $62,649.60, Step 3 (max) $64,230.40. Steps are automatic annual increases (yearsToTop derived: 2 PPO years + 2 PO steps). Higher scales by degree, e.g. Bachelor's PPO Step 1 $66,539.20 to PO Step 3 $73,548.80; Master's $71,219.20 to $78,686.40; PhD/JD PPO Step 1 $76,211.20.
Source:[joincpd.com]
Pay for this work across South Carolina
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in South Carolina, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 12,930 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $45,060 |
| Median pay | $58,070 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $78,760 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma or equivalency certificate recognized by the S.C. Department of Education
- Medical history and a licensed physician's certificate of a recent complete medical examination
- No conviction for any offense carrying a sentence of one year or more or involving moral turpitude (guilty or nolo plea and bond forfeiture count as convictions)
- Good character: employer background investigation, favorable local credit check, FBI and SLED fingerprint record with no felony convictions
- Valid driver's license with no DUI, reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter or leaving-the-scene record in the previous five years
- Signed attestation committing to ethical policing, including the duty to intervene
- Must be certified within one year of employment; uncertified hires may not exercise arrest powers until they pass a Council-approved firearms qualification and must work with a certified officer
Source:[scstatehouse.gov]
Hiring process
- Employment by a South Carolina law enforcement agency
- Background investigation, credit check and fingerprint check (FBI and SLED)
- Medical examination by a licensed physician
- Firearms qualification before exercising arrest powers
- SCCJA Basic Law Enforcement training (12 weeks)
- Class 1 law enforcement certification within 12 months of hire
Source:[scstatehouse.gov]
Required training
12 weeks. SCCJA Basic Law Enforcement: the program is "twelve weeks in duration"; graduates become Class 1 Law Enforcement Officers and must complete training within the first twelve months of employment. Basic and advanced training are provided at the academy (S.C. Code 23-23-20). If an officer leaves within two years, the new hiring agency must reimburse 50-100% of training costs including salary paid during training (S.C. Code Title 23, Chapter 23).[sccja.sc.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System (PORS), administered by PEBA
- Benefit formula: 2.14% of average final compensation multiplied by years of service
- When you can retire: Class Three (membership on or after July 1, 2012): retire after 27 years of service or at age 55 or older; at least eight years of earned service needed for a monthly benefit
Member contribution 9.75% of gross pay. Annual benefit adjustment of 1% up to $500 per year. Covers local police only where the employer participates in PORS.
Source:[peba.sc.gov]