How to become a state trooper in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania State Police hires state troopers under the title Trooper. New state troopers start at $73,087 a year, rising to $130,525 after about 29 years. You must be at least 20.
Pay
| Starting salary | $73,087 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $130,525 |
| Years to top | 29 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
One pay ladder by years of service (July 2026 schedule): $73,087 after the academy, rising each year to $130,525 from year 30.
Source:[careers.employment.pa.gov]
Pay for this work across Pennsylvania
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Pennsylvania, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 26,510 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $48,680 |
| Median pay | $85,470 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $109,780 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 20
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen at the time of initial application
- At least 20 to apply; at least 21 and not yet 40 on the date of appointment as a State Police Cadet
- Valid driver's license from any state at appointment; Pennsylvania resident with a valid PA driver's license by graduation
- Normal color vision, depth perception and field of vision (certified by optometrist/ophthalmologist)
- Confidential automatic disqualifiers include criminal conduct and substance abuse
Source:[patrooper.com]
Hiring process
- Application via NEOGOV
- Written examination
- Polygraph examination
- Background investigation
- Eligibility list (with veterans' preference points)
- Physical readiness processing (by invitation from the eligibility list)
- Medical and psychological processing (including drug screen)
- Appointment to a cadet class in rank order
Source:[patrooper.com]
Entrance exam
PSP Cadet written examination. PSP publishes a 'Cadet and LEOT Written Examination Prep Guide'; no vendor test is named on the selection-process page.[patrooper.com]
Academy
26 weeks, paid. PSP Academy in Hershey; the academy-life page calls it a 26-week program, while the salary page refers to 'the initial 28 week' academy basic training. Cadets are paid, join SERS on appointment, and begin an 18-month probation on induction. Residential status not stated on the pages read.[patrooper.com]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS), State Police officer defined benefit (class A-3 or A-4)
- Benefit formula: With 20-24.99 years of state police service: 50% of highest one-year earnings (excluding the year of separation); 25+ years: 75% of highest one-year earnings (DiLauro Award). Otherwise basic calculation: 2% x class multiplier (1.0 for A-3, 1.25 for A-4) x years of credited service x final average salary (highest three non-overlapping 4-quarter periods)
- When you can retire: State police calculation at 20+ years of state police service; basic calculation unreduced at age 55 with 3 years, vested at 10 years (reduced before 55)
Applies to those entering the PSP Academy on or after 1/1/2019. Members contribute 6.25% (A-3) or 9.3% (A-4) of pay.
Source:[sers.pa.gov]