How to become a state trooper in Illinois
The Illinois State Police hires state troopers under the title Trooper. New state troopers start at $90,828 a year. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $90,828 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | — |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
ISP recruitment page: 'As of 7/1/2026, upon successful completion of the Academy, a first-year Trooper's base salary is $90,828'; increases come from service longevity steps or promotion (step amounts not published). The Join ISP page still shows an older $84,420 starting base and cadet-training pay of $3,968/month (≈$47,616/yr, monthly × 12).
Source:[isp.illinois.gov]
Pay for this work across Illinois
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Illinois, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 29,180 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $58,420 |
| Median pay | $100,520 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $119,560 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: Associate degree or 60 semester hours from an accredited college/university with a C average or better; or qualifying honorable military service; or current/former peace officer with basic law enforcement training plus 3 years' continuous full-time service with the same department
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- At least 21, or 20 with an associate degree or 60 college credit hours (the page does not say whether at application or appointment)
- No felony conviction
- Valid driver's license at time of application
- Must accept assignment anywhere in Illinois
Source:[isp.illinois.gov]
Hiring process
- Online pre-employment application (Illinois State Police Merit Board)
- Physical Fitness Inventory Test (PFIT) followed by the online LST recruitment exam (score 70+ to enter the eligibility pool)
- Submit application materials and supporting documents
- Background investigation
- Oral interviews
- Medical, psychological, vision, hearing and drug screening
- Academy
Source:[illinoistrooper.com]
Entrance exam
LST Exam (Recruitment Examination). Taken online right after the PFIT (sit & reach, 1-minute sit-ups, bench press, 1.5-mile run); score of 70 or higher places the applicant in the eligibility pool. Merit Board links IO Solutions study materials.[illinoistrooper.com]
Academy
29 weeks, paid. ISP Cadet Training page: cadets must complete 29 weeks of training, then at least 14 weeks of field training with three FTOs. The Merit Board describes a 30-week para-military academy in Springfield. Cadets are paid ($3,968/month per Join ISP).[isp.illinois.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois (SERS), Tier 2, alternative formula
- Benefit formula: 2.5% per year of service if coordinated with Social Security, 3.0% per year if non-coordinated, × final average compensation (average of the 96 highest consecutive months within the last 120 months); 80% maximum referenced
- When you can retire: Tier 2 members with police powers (including State Police) may retire at age 55 with at least 20 years of alternative formula service
ISP recruitment page confirms Tier 2 (joined after Dec 31, 2010) alternative-formula retirement at age 55 with 20 years. No official page found stating whether troopers are coordinated with Social Security.
Source:[ilsrs.illinois.gov]