How to become a state trooper in Georgia
The Georgia State Patrol (Georgia Department of Public Safety) hires state troopers under the title Trooper. New state troopers start at $63,684 a year, rising to $80,024 after about 7.5 years. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $63,684 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $80,024 |
| Years to top | 7.5 |
Top = Trooper First Class 3, reached after 18 months as Trooper plus six years as Trooper First Class (each level also needs a recommendation and training).
Source:[dps.georgia.gov]
Pay for this work across Georgia
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Georgia, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 22,170 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $43,690 |
| Median pay | $58,120 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $76,250 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma (accredited) or GED; official transcripts required
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen (all sworn positions)
- No minimum age to apply, but must be 21 at graduation; no upper age limit
- Valid driver's license
- Medical screening includes hearing and vision standards
- Georgia residency not required; out-of-state applicants may apply
- Fitness minimums: 30 sit-ups and 21 push-ups in one minute each, 1.5-mile run in 15:34
Source:[dps.georgia.gov]
Hiring process
- Submit online application (Team Georgia)
- Physical fitness test
- Polygraph examination
- Background investigation
- Oral interview
- Psychological evaluation
- Medical screening (hearing and vision standards) and drug screening
- Georgia P.O.S.T. Entrance Exam (exempt with qualifying test scores or a college degree)
Source:[dps.georgia.gov]
Entrance exam
Georgia P.O.S.T. Entrance Exam. Applicants may be exempt with qualifying test scores or a college degree.[dps.georgia.gov]
Academy
22 weeks, paid. Basic curriculum 22 weeks plus 12 weeks of field training; accelerated curriculum for qualifying law enforcement experience is 14 weeks plus 12 weeks of field training. Cadets stay at the academy for the first four weeks, then may go home on weekends. Paid $61,604/yr during Trooper School.[dps.georgia.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Employees' Retirement System of Georgia (ERS), Georgia State Employees' Pension and Savings Plan (GSEPS, Tier 3; hired on or after Jan. 1, 2009)
- Benefit formula: Formula salary x 1% x creditable service, plus Peach State Reserves 401(k) with state match up to 5% of pay
- When you can retire: Age 60 with 10 years, or 30 years at any age; certain law enforcement job codes may retire at age 55 with 10 years
Member contribution 1.25% to the pension. 10-year vesting. Effective July 1, 2026 (SB 452), eligible law enforcement members contributing 5% get an enhanced 401(k) match rising from 7% at 6 years to 15% at 10+ years; ERS does not name state patrol specifically (depends on its law enforcement job-code list). DPS benefits page also lists the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund (POAB) 'if applicable'.
Source:[ers.ga.gov]