How to become a state trooper in New Mexico
The New Mexico State Police (Department of Public Safety) hires state troopers under the title Patrolman. New state troopers start at $76,960 a year. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $76,960 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | — |
| Scale effective | 2024-07 |
NMSP benefits sheet: 'Starting pay for New Mexico State Police Recruit is $26.00 hourly. Patrolman begins at $37.00 hourly.' $37.00 x 2080 = $76,960. Recruit (academy) pay $26.00/hr x 2080 = $54,080. Plus $500 uniform allowance twice per year, take-home vehicle, shift differential, and degree incentive pay. No top-step figure published on an official source found.
Source:[joinnmsp.com]
Pay for this work across New Mexico
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in New Mexico, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 4,580 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $48,400 |
| Median pay | $69,180 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $85,740 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- Must be at least 21 by academy graduation; no maximum age limit (NMSP benefits sheet)
- No felony convictions; good moral character; no dishonorable discharge
- Vision 20/30 corrected or 20/100 uncorrected
- Physical test: 300 m sprint in 71 s, 1.5-mile run in 15:14 (+40 s if trained above 6,000 ft), 27 sit-ups and 15 push-ups in one minute each
- NMSP benefits sheet refers to a 60-college-hour entry requirement, waived with 2+ years of military service or 3 years as a state-certified police officer
Source:[joinnmsp.com]
Hiring process
- Physical and written exam
- Polygraph exam
- Background investigation
- Oral panel interview
- Psychiatric and medical evaluation
- Chief's selection
Source:[joinnmsp.com]
Entrance exam
NMSP written exam. The recruiting page names no vendor test; it says the written exam covers math, reading and comprehension and is given with the physical test.[joinnmsp.com]
Academy
20 weeks, paid. Recruits are paid $26.00/hr during the academy (NMSP benefits sheet). Residential status not stated on the recruiting page.[joinnmsp.com]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), State Public Safety Officer Plan 1 (formerly State Police and Adult Correctional Officer Plan 1), Tier 2
- Benefit formula: 3.0% x final average salary x years of service credit (pension maximum 100% of FAS per PERA FY25 rate sheet; earlier sheets showed 90%)
- When you can retire: Any age with 25 or more years of service credit, or age 60 or older with 5 or more years of service credit (Tier 2); vested at 5 years
Source:[nmpera.org]