How to become a police officer in Utah
In Utah, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), Utah Department of Public Safety sets the statewide standards; the credential is Law Enforcement Officer certification. At the Salt Lake City Police Department, new hires start at $76,315 a year, rising to $108,264 after about 12 years. You must be at least 21.
Pay at the Salt Lake City Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Salt Lake City Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $76,315 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $108,264 |
| Years to top | 12 |
| Scale effective | 2026-01-04 |
SLCPD Police Officer Pay Scale, table effective January 4, 2026: Entry $36.69/hr up to $52.05/hr after 12 years of completed service (steps at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 years); annual = hourly x 2080. Afternoon shift +2.5%, graveyard +5%. Earlier FY2025/26 table: entry $35.52 ($73,881.60). A later table (labelled effective June 20, 2027) shows entry $37.42 to $53.09. Career path incentive, FTO and college degree pay extra.
Source:[police.slc.gov]
Pay for this work across Utah
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Utah, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 5,500 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $60,290 |
| Median pay | $77,310 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $99,920 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school graduate or evidence of successful completion of an equivalent examination
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident who has been in the U.S. legally for the five years immediately before applying and is authorized to work
- At least 21 years old at the time of certification as a law enforcement officer (19 for special function or correctional officer)
- No conviction of a crime punishable by imprisonment in a federal or state penitentiary (expunged convictions may be considered)
- Good moral character, determined by a background investigation
- Free of any physical, emotional, or mental condition that might adversely affect performance as a peace officer
- Criminal history check of local, state, and national files with the training application
- Must be qualified to possess a firearm under state and federal law
- Meet all other standards required by POST
Source:[le.utah.gov]
Hiring process
- Hire by a Utah law enforcement agency (agency-sponsored) or self-sponsorship at a satellite academy
- POST application for training and certification with criminal history background check and background investigation
- Physical fitness entrance standard
- POST basic training (Special Function Officer block, then Law Enforcement Officer block)
- POST certification examination
- Certification by POST
Source:[post.utah.gov]
Entrance exam
Utah POST certification examination. Utah Code 53-6-203 sets the requirements an applicant must meet before being allowed to take a certification examination. During the academy, fitness is tested three times (push-ups, vertical jump, planks, 1.5-mile run) and students must pass frequent tests and quizzes.[le.utah.gov]
Required training
16 weeks.[post.utah.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Utah Retirement Systems (URS) Tier 2 Public Safety and Firefighter Retirement System
- Benefit formula: Hybrid plan: 1.5% of final average salary x years of service credit accrued July 1, 2011-June 30, 2020, plus 2% of final average salary x years accrued on and after July 1, 2020
- When you can retire: Age 65 or 25 years of service credit with no reduction; between age 60 and 65 with fewer than 25 years, reduced by the full actuarial amount
Tier 2 applies to members who began after July 1, 2011; members may instead choose the Tier 2 defined contribution plan (employer contributes 14% of pay to a 401(k), vesting after 4 years, Utah Code 49-23-401).
Source:[le.utah.gov]