How to become a state trooper in Michigan
The Michigan State Police hires state troopers under the title State Police Trooper 10 (probationary trooper). New state troopers start at $71,723 a year, rising to $107,031 after about 10 years. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $71,723 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $107,031 |
| Years to top | 10 |
| Scale effective | 2026-10-01 |
MSPTA contract Article 36 schedule effective 10-01-2026: Trooper 10 start (year 1, from recruit-school completion) $34.35/hr = $71,722.80; Trooper E11 year 2 $40.44, year 3 $42.44, year 4 $44.55, years 5-9 $49.06, year 10 $51.26/hr = $107,030.88 (annual figures as printed). Recruit-school base pay = 52.637% of the Trooper 10 base rate, plus a minimum of 24 hours/week at the overtime rate; the recruiting page says recruits receive approximately $5,500/month. Steps advance by time-in-service hours.
Source:[michigan.gov]
Pay for this work across Michigan
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Michigan, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 16,750 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $47,780 |
| Median pay | $73,730 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $89,220 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma or G.E.D. (college recommended, not required)
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen (MCOLES law enforcement licensing standard)
- Must be 21 by recruit school graduation (minAge = age at graduation); no maximum age stated
- Michigan resident with a valid Michigan driver's license before recruit school graduation
- No felony conviction (including expunged/set aside) and no listed disqualifying misdemeanors or domestic violence
- Meet MCOLES minimum hearing and visual acuity standards
- Driving record: in the prior 2 years no 8+ points, 3+ moving violations, or 2+ at-fault crashes; in the prior 4 years no suspended-license driving, OWI, or 2+ reckless driving convictions
- Pass an accepted fitness test (MSP Baseline, MCOLES, recent military, or out-of-state minimum test)
Source:[michigan.gov]
Hiring process
- Entry-Level Law Enforcement Exam (National Testing Network) and accepted fitness test
- NEOGOV online application with documents
- Hiring interview (three-member panel)
- Background investigation
- Conditional offer of employment, then psychological screening, medical exam, drug screen, and MCOLES fitness test update
- Appointment letter to the next recruit school
- Academy training (recruit school)
Source:[michigan.gov]
Entrance exam
Entry Level Law Enforcement Exam (National Testing Network / FrontLine). Score valid for 5 years; practice test at frontlinetest.com is optional.[michigan.gov]
Academy
21 weeks, paid. Official range is 20-22 weeks ('most recruit schools are a 20-22 week residential program'); 21 is the midpoint. Residential at the MSP Training Academy, Lansing, Sunday through Friday. Recruits are MSP employees from day one with salary and full insurance. Followed by ~17-week probationary field training with an FTO.[michigan.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Michigan State Police Retirement System - Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Hybrid Plan for New Troopers (from the 123rd Trooper Recruit School)
- Benefit formula: 2% of 5-year final average compensation (excluding overtime) × years of service up to 25 years; after 25 years the multiplier declines by 0.4% each year until reaching 0% after 30 years; plus 401(k) balance (employer match 50% of employee contributions up to 1% of pay). Employee DB contribution 4.0%.
- When you can retire: DB portion: age 55 with 25 years, or age 60 with 10 years (vested at 10 years)
- Social Security: yes, you also pay in
No post-retirement increases and no DROP. Retiree health: 401(k)/457 matching contribution (4% from 10-01-2025) plus $2,000 into an HRA. Social Security: the contract lists Federal Social Security (F.I.C.A.) among employee payroll deductions.
Source:[michigan.gov]