How to become a state trooper in Oregon
The Oregon State Police hires state troopers under the title Recruit Trooper. New state troopers start at $77,064 a year, rising to $115,968 after about 6 years. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $77,064 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $115,968 |
| Years to top | 6 |
| Scale effective | 2026-01 |
OSP monthly base salary table (updated January 2026), 8 steps: Step 1 at hire $6,422 (Non-PERS) / $6,869 (PERS-eligible); Step 2 at 6 months $6,742 / $7,210; Step 3 at 1 year $7,080 / $7,570; ... Step 8 at 6 years $9,035 / $9,664. Recruit troopers become PERS-eligible after 6 months, so start uses the Step 1 Non-PERS rate ($6,422 x 12 = $77,064) and top uses the Step 8 PERS-eligible rate ($9,664 x 12 = $115,968); Step 8 Non-PERS = $108,420. Premiums: 3% associate's/intermediate DPSST cert, 6% bachelor's/advanced cert, possible 5% foreign-language differential.
Source:[oregon.gov]
Pay for this work across Oregon
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Oregon, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 5,030 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $66,380 |
| Median pay | $88,140 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $109,350 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization, or able to attain citizenship within 18 months of hire (OAR 259-008-0019)
- Must be 21 on the first day of employment (OAR 259-008-0010)
- Possess and maintain a valid driver's license
- Pass background, credit and criminal history checks; good health and moral character
- Work at the assigned duty station for 2 years after reaching solo status
- Automatic disqualifiers include any felony, certain misdemeanors, DUI diversion/major traffic offense within 5 years, and marijuana use within 12 months
Source:[oregon.gov]
Hiring process
- Online job application and supplemental information
- Entry Level Testing: OSP Physical Fitness Test, academic exam, and pre-offer psychological exam/risk assessment plus Personal History Questionnaire
- Command interview with OSP Majors and Captains
- Background investigation
- Conditional offer of employment
- Medical screening and post-offer psychological evaluation
- Appointment: Pre-Academy, DPSST Basic Police Academy, OSP Post-Academy
Source:[oregon.gov]
Entrance exam
OSP Entry Level Testing academic exam (POST test). Reading, writing and math sections at a high-school-equivalency level, given in person at ELT with the OSP PFT and a pre-offer psychological exam.[oregon.gov]
Academy
25 weeks, paid. Approximately 3-week OSP Pre-Academy + 16-week DPSST Basic Police Academy + approximately 6-7-week OSP Post-Academy (about 25-26 weeks total), followed by field training. Recruits are paid from hire (Step 1). Residential status not stated.[oregon.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP) pension, police officer and firefighter (P&F) category, plus Individual Account Program (IAP)
- Benefit formula: 1.8% x years of total retirement credit x final average salary (FAS = highest three consecutive years, or last 36 months, whichever is greater)
- When you can retire: OPSRP P&F normal retirement at age 55, or age 53 with 25 years; early (reduced) retirement at age 50. The last 60 months of credit before eligibility must be classified P&F.
Normal/early ages from PERS benefit comparison chart (https://www.oregon.gov/pers/mem/pages/benefit-component-comparisons.aspx). Members also contribute 6% of salary to the IAP (5.25% IAP + 0.75% Employee Pension Stability Account above the salary threshold). OSP recruiting page: troopers become PERS-eligible after 6 months.
Source:[oregon.gov]