How to become a police officer in Texas
In Texas, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) sets the statewide standards; the credential is Peace Officer License. At the Houston Police Department, new hires start at $81,000 a year, rising to $98,028. You must be at least 21.
Pay at the Houston Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Houston Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $81,000 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $98,028 |
HPD recruiting site base salary table: Cadet/Probationary Officer $52,000; First Year Officer $81,000; Police Officer (2+ years) $82,620-$98,028. Senior Police Officer (12+ years) $99,811-$109,290 is listed separately with the promotional ranks. Plus incentive pay after probation (e.g. $2,002 equipment allowance, $2,600 shift differential, weekend premiums) and education pay. Effective date not stated.
Source:[hpdcareer.com]
Pay for this work across Texas
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Texas, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 63,100 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $51,240 |
| Median pay | $75,900 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $98,350 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: GED or high school diploma (for academy enrollment only, an honorable discharge after at least 24 months of active duty is accepted)
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen, or a legal permanent resident who is an honorably discharged veteran with at least two years of service and has applied for U.S. citizenship
- Age 21, or 18 with an associate's degree or 60 semester hours from an accredited college, or an honorable discharge after at least two years of active service
- Fingerprinted and searched against local, state and national criminal records
- Never on community supervision/probation or convicted for any offense above a Class B misdemeanor, or for a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years
- Never convicted of, or on community supervision for, a family-violence offense
- Not prohibited by law from operating a motor vehicle or possessing firearms or ammunition
- Background investigation with the Commission-approved personal history statement
- Medical exam by a Texas-licensed physician (including drug test) and psychological exam by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, each within 180 days before appointment
- Never dishonorably discharged; no denied or revoked TCOLE license
- Meets minimum training standards and passes the commission licensing examination
Hiring process
- Application to a city/county law enforcement agency or academy
- Personal history statement and background investigation
- Fingerprint criminal history search
- Psychological examination
- Medical examination and drug test
- Basic Peace Officer Course (736 hours)
- TCOLE peace officer licensing exam
- Appointment and licensing by TCOLE
Source:[tcole.texas.gov]
Entrance exam
TCOLE Peace Officer licensing exam. Rule 217.1 requires passing the commission licensing examination for each license sought, while the exam approval remains valid. Exams are scheduled through regional exam site centers.[tcole.texas.gov]
Required training
736 hours minimum. TCOLE lists the Basic Peace Officer Course 736 (course 1000736, updated 08/29/2025); the History of BPOC document states 'the Basic Peace Officer Course shall consist of 736 hours' (previous versions: 643 hours in 2013, 696 in 2019, 720). An academic alternative program with at least an associate's degree is also accepted.[tcole.texas.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Houston Police Officers' Pension System (HPOPS)
- Benefit formula: 2.25% of Final Average Pay per year of service for the first 20 years, then 2.0% per year thereafter, maximum 80%; Final Average Pay = pensionable pay over the last 78 biweekly pay periods divided by 36 (members hired after October 9, 2004)
- When you can retire: Normal retirement age (Art. 6243g-4 as amended effective September 1, 2025): 20 years of service at any age, or age 60 with 10 years of service
- Social Security: no, this job is not covered
Source:[hpops.org]