How to become a state trooper in South Carolina
The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SC Department of Public Safety) hires state troopers under the title Trooper Trainee. New state troopers start at $61,976 a year, rising to $82,234 after about 15 years. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $61,976 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $82,234 |
| Years to top | 15 |
SCHP 'Current Salary Breakdown' (total salary, Troops 1-7): Trooper Trainee (non-certified) $61,976; Trooper Trainee (certified, <18 months SC LE experience) $62,854; Trooper First Class (18 months) $63,731; Senior Trooper (3 years) $65,201; Lance Corporal (5 years) $69,523; Lance Corporal +3 years $72,163; Master Trooper (10 years) $74,912; Master Trooper +3 years $78,484; Master Trooper +5 years (15 years) $82,234. Trainees are paid from date of hire, so the trainee rate applies during the academy too. Up to 15 years of certified LE service can be credited for higher starting pay; $10,000 sign-on bonus for critical-needs areas. Troops 8-10 have a different structure.
Source:[scdps.sc.gov]
Pay for this work across South Carolina
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in South Carolina, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 12,930 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $45,060 |
| Median pay | $58,070 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $78,760 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- At least 21 by the hire date / before day one of basic training; no maximum age if all physical tests can be completed
- Valid SC driver's license or valid license from current state; out-of-state applicants must establish SC residency and get an SC license before hire
- Vision 20/20, or no worse than 20/200 uncorrected and correctable to 20/100 or better; must distinguish green, yellow and red without correction
- No felony, criminal domestic violence, or DUI within 5 years; no driving suspension in 5 years for alcohol/drug or leaving the scene; no dishonorable discharge
- Minimal credit standards (no unsatisfied judgment, unpaid tax lien, or defaulted student loan)
Source:[scdps.sc.gov]
Hiring process
- Online state application at careers.sc.gov
- Submit required documents
- Physical Ability Test and Nelson-Denny written test (same day)
- Polygraph examination
- Background investigation
- Professional interview (oral interview board)
- Medical and psychological testing
- Firm offer of employment
Source:[scdps.sc.gov]
Entrance exam
Nelson-Denny Reading Test. Taken the same day as the Physical Ability Test; SC Class 1 certified officers are exempt.[scdps.sc.gov]
Academy
25 weeks, paid. SC Criminal Justice Academy plus SCHP training: approximately 25 weeks for uncertified applicants, approximately 10 weeks for SC Class 1 certified applicants. Recruits stay at the academy Sunday evening to Friday afternoon; paid with benefits from date of hire.[scdps.sc.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System (PORS), Class Three (membership on or after July 1, 2012)
- Benefit formula: 2.14% of average final compensation x years of service
- When you can retire: Retire after 27 years of service or at age 55 or older; at least 8 years of earned service required for a monthly benefit
Members contribute 9.75% of gross pay; annual benefit adjustment of 1% up to $500/year for eligible retirees.
Source:[peba.sc.gov]