How to become a state trooper in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (Oklahoma Department of Public Safety) hires state troopers under the title Trooper. New state troopers start at $64,238 a year, rising to $92,794. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $64,238 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $92,794 |
OHP Traditional Trooper Pay Scale (annual salary, excluding uniform allowance and shift differential): Cadet during academy $56,562.79; Step 1 (after probation) $64,238.15; Step 2 $67,899.62; Step 3 $71,792.92; Step 4 $76,655.59; Step 5 $81,271.63; Step 6 $86,839.90; Step 7 $92,794.49; steps after Step 1 are each 'after one additional year'. The 'Probationary Trooper, after graduation' row is internally inconsistent on the page (salary $67,899.62 but total $61,469.51), so Step 1 is used as the start figure. Probation is a minimum one year from academy start. Plus uniform allowance ($1,200/yr, $150/month after probation) and $600 shift differential after field training; longevity pay after two years. Laterals (2+ years certified) start at Step 2 pay.
Source:[oklahoma.gov]
Pay for this work across Oklahoma
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Oklahoma, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 9,660 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $36,480 |
| Median pay | $59,700 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $94,940 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: Before academy graduation: associate's degree or at least 62 semester hours from an accredited college; or 32 semester hours plus 3 years of honorable active/reserve military service. Prior military or law enforcement service earns up to 10 credit hours per year (max 30).
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- At least 21 but less than 46 years of age when the academy starts
- Applicants with at least 23 completed semester hours may qualify through an OHP academy credit program
- Valid, unexpired driver's license; no suspension or revocation in the last 3 years; no DUI/DWI within 3 years
- No felony convictions; drug-use disqualification windows (3 years for controlled substances, 1 year for marijuana)
- Pass the physical agility test
Source:[oklahoma.gov]
Hiring process
- Online application with required documents (transcripts, DD-214 if applicable)
- Written exam (Oklahoma POSSE)
- Physical agility test
- Interview, background investigation and polygraph
Source:[oklahoma.gov]
Entrance exam
Oklahoma POSSE. Trooper trainee written exam offered through Oklahoma CareerTech; results valid for one year.[oklahoma.gov]
Academy
Length not published, paid. Cadets are paid $56,562.79/yr during the academy. Academy length varies by class and is not stated on the official OHP pages found.[oklahoma.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System (OLERS)
- Benefit formula: Final average salary x 2.5% x years of credited service; FAS = average of the 30 highest consecutive paid gross salaries
- When you can retire: Eligible after 20 years of actual service, or at age 62 with 10 years of service; no mandatory retirement age
Members contribute 8% of gross pensionable salary; employing agency contributes 11%.
Source:[olers.ok.gov]