How to become a state trooper in Vermont
The Vermont State Police (Vermont Department of Public Safety) hires state troopers under the title Trooper - Probationary. New state troopers start at $84,160 a year, rising to $128,438. You must be at least 20.
Pay
| Starting salary | $84,160 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $128,438 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07 |
VSP pay page (effective July 2026): newly hired trooper $84,160.30; $88,352.00 after six months; $91,916.20 after probation (end of first year); top salary $128,437.70 for a trooper with no rank. Trainees are paid from the first day of Pre-Basic. Experienced hires may start at $88,352.00. $5,000 sign-on bonus paid over the first year; up to $10,000 tuition reimbursement over five years. State careers posting lists $33.53-$52.19/hr (rising to $34.20-$53.23/hr Jan. 11, 2027).
Source:[vsp.vermont.gov]
Pay for this work across Vermont
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Vermont, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 1,020 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $53,950 |
| Median pay | $68,910 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $95,530 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 20
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Citizenship: Authorization to work in the United States (documentation required)
- Minimum 20 years old to apply and begin the testing selection process
- Must possess or be eligible to obtain a valid motor vehicle license at application; Vermont operator's license required by academy graduation
- Vermont residency required by graduation from the basic Academy (need not be a resident to apply)
- Testing normally requires five trips to Vermont testing sites
- Mandatory retirement at age 57 (posting text also mentions age 55)
Source:[careers.vermont.gov]
Hiring process
- Online State of Vermont application plus supporting documents
- Phase 1: FrontLine National entrance test (NTN)
- Phase 2: Physical fitness test (1.5-mile run, 500-m row, sit-ups, push-ups) and MMPI-3 on the same day
- Phase 3: Hiring panel interview
- Phase 4: Polygraph
- Phase 5: Background investigation and medical exam
- Phase 6: Meeting with the Director (Colonel)
Source:[vsp.vermont.gov]
Entrance exam
FrontLine National entrance test (NTN). Video-based human relations, reading ability and report writing sections; online or at an NTN location.[vsp.vermont.gov]
Academy
27 weeks, paid. About 27 weeks: 3-week VSP Pre-Basic (boot-camp style), 17-week basic police academy (Vermont Police Academy, Pittsford), 7 weeks post-basic; then a 45-63 day Field Training Program. Paid from the first day of Pre-Basic. Classes start in January and July.[vsp.vermont.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Vermont State Employees' Retirement System (VSERS), Group C
- Benefit formula: Group C service (up to 20 years) × 2.5% × AFC; AFC = average of two highest consecutive years of earnings; maximum 50% of AFC
- When you can retire: Normal retirement at age 55; unreduced early retirement at age 50 with 20 years of service. VSP: mandatory retirement at age 57; vested after 5 years.
VSERS says the retirement system 'has no effect upon Social Security and vice versa' but does not state outright that troopers pay into Social Security.
Source:[vermonttreasurer.gov]