How to become a state trooper in North Dakota
The North Dakota Highway Patrol hires state troopers under the title Trooper. New state troopers start at $75,528 a year, rising to $91,668.
Pay
| Starting salary | $75,528 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $91,668 |
| Scale effective | 2025-07-01 |
Effective July 1, 2025, new officers receive a base salary of $75,528 - $84,744 depending on experience; NDHP states 'the current salary for a senior trooper is $91,668 per year' (used as top). Plus $200/month unvouchered expense allowance after training; on-call pay at 20% of hourly rate. Recruit (academy) pay not stated separately.
Source:[statepatrol.nd.gov]
Pay for this work across North Dakota
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in North Dakota, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 1,630 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $58,620 |
| Median pay | $74,500 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $91,440 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Education: Associate's degree, or 60 semester credit hours; the 60 credits may be replaced with comparable law enforcement employment or military service
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen for not less than two years
- Unrestricted driver's license (except corrective lenses); revocations or suspensions in the past 3 years generally disqualify
- Vision correctable to 20/30 or better, normal color vision and depth perception
- Willing to accept assignment anywhere in the state
- No felony or domestic violence conviction; no Class A misdemeanor within 5 years or Class B misdemeanor within 3 years
- No minimum or maximum age listed on the qualifications page
Source:[statepatrol.nd.gov]
Hiring process
- Application (cover letter, resume, unofficial college transcript) through ND PeopleSoft
- Written tests
- Oral interview board
- California Psychological Inventory and background investigation
- Conditional offer: medical exam and drug screen, MMPI-2-RF, psychologist interview, physical agility testing
- Placement on eligibility roster and hiring
Source:[statepatrol.nd.gov]
Entrance exam
Wonderlic Personnel Test and National Police Officer Selection Test (NPOST). Both are given in Phase 2 to applicants who meet minimum qualifications.[statepatrol.nd.gov]
Academy
Length not published. Training at the ND Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) in Bismarck; trainees stay at LETA Sunday night through Friday with room and board provided at no cost; graduates then begin field training with assigned troopers. Length and academy pay not stated on an official page found.[statepatrol.nd.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: North Dakota Highway Patrol Retirement System (NDPERS-administered Highway Patrol plan)
- Benefit formula: 3.6% multiplier for the first 25 years of service (about 90% of final average salary at 25 years, per NDHP)
- When you can retire: Normal retirement at age 55 with 10 years of service, or the Rule of 80 (age + service), whichever comes first
- Social Security: no, this job is not covered
NDHP: 'Highway Patrol troopers pay into Medicare but not into Social Security.' Service in TFFR and NDPERS can count toward eligibility.
Source:[statepatrol.nd.gov]