How to become a state trooper in Nevada
The Nevada State Police - Highway Patrol (Nevada Department of Public Safety) hires state troopers under the title DPS Officer I (class 13.207). New state troopers start at $82,392 a year, rising to $123,651. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $82,392 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $123,651 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
DPS Officer I is grade 40 (DPS Officer Cadet grade 39, DPS Officer II grade 41) per the state class list. State compensation schedule Pay Policy 01G (classified, employee/employer contribution plan), effective July 1, 2026: grade 40 step 1 $39.46/hr, $82,392.48/yr; step 10 $59.22/hr, $123,651.36/yr (annual figures as printed, = monthly × 12). Pay policy 01G is assumed from the class's bargaining unit G; the base PP01 schedule shows $80,053.92 for grade 40 step 1. An employer-paid retirement option pays a lower range. Cadets (academy) are grade 39: PP01G step 1 $78,842.88/yr.
Source:[hr.nv.gov]
Pay for this work across Nevada
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Nevada, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 5,720 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $62,250 |
| Median pay | $78,140 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $102,810 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school graduation or equivalent
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen (Nevada POST minimum standard for peace officer appointment, NAC 289.110)
- DPS Officer Cadet: 21 years of age or older (age at which measured not stated); no maximum age stated
- DPS Officer I requires Category I Peace Officer certification from a Nevada POST-approved academy (earned as a cadet)
- Valid Nevada driver's license may be required at appointment
- Automatic rejection: felony conviction, crime of moral turpitude, domestic violence, 1 DUI in the past 5 years or 2 in 7, drug offenses, illegal drug use within listed periods (other drugs within 3 years)
- Pre-employment drug screen and background check
Source:[leg.state.nv.us]
Hiring process
- Apply to the open-competitive DPS Officer Cadet recruitment on NVAPPS (DPS Officer II for laterals)
- Recruitment testing including a physical fitness examination; passing candidates are placed on an eligible list
- Background investigation under the DPS sworn candidate selection criteria
- Appointment as DPS Officer Cadet and Nevada POST academy
- Promotion to DPS Officer I on academy graduation, then field training
Source:[dps.nv.gov]
Academy
Length not published, paid. Cadets are paid state employees (grade 39) assigned to a Nevada POST academy; DPS states academies are held each January and July in Carson City and March and September in Las Vegas. Length not stated in an official source found.[dps.nv.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Public Employees' Retirement System of Nevada (NVPERS), Police/Fire, members enrolled on or after July 1, 2015
- Benefit formula: Service credit × 2.5% × average monthly compensation (highest 36 consecutive months)
- When you can retire: Police/Fire: age 65 with 5 years, age 60 with 10 years, age 50 with 20 years; early retirement reduced 6% for each year under the required age
Contributions under the Employee/Employer plan are shared equally; the employer-paid plan carries a lower salary schedule.
Source:[nvpers.org]