How to become a state trooper in Virginia
The Virginia State Police hires state troopers under the title Trooper. New state troopers start at $62,100 a year, rising to $119,213. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $62,100 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $119,213 |
VSP recruiting: Trooper Trainee starting salary $62,100, paid during the academy; $67,692 twelve months after graduation; troopers 'can make up to $119,213'. Northern Virginia (Fairfax Division and certain nearby counties): $77,594 at graduation, $84,581 at 12 months, up to $148,957. Figures exclude overtime. Hiring bonus 'up to $10,000'.
Source:[vatrooper.com]
Pay for this work across Virginia
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Virginia, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 19,970 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $50,000 |
| Median pay | $65,870 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $96,820 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma or GED (associate degree or higher earns credit toward career progression)
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- Must be age 21 upon graduation from the Trooper Basic Academy Session (may apply at 20; Pathway to Trooper program for ages 17.5-19)
- Pre-Employment Work Performance Test (physical obstacle course)
- Background investigation including polygraph
Source:[vatrooper.com]
Hiring process
- Phase I(A): Written test, registered through the National Testing Network
- Phase I(B): Work Performance Test (obstacle course)
- Phase II(A): Polygraph examination
- Phase II(B): Background investigation
- Phase III: Medical and psychological evaluations
Source:[vatrooper.com]
Entrance exam
VSP written test (National Testing Network). Registered through the National Testing Network; VSP does not name the specific test.[vatrooper.com]
Academy
29 weeks, paid. FAQ: Basic session of 29 weeks with optional live-in (lodging Sunday evening through Friday afternoon); the Trooper page calls it a '28-week Trooper Basic School'. DCJS-certified laterals attend a 5-week session. Trainees earn $62,100 with full benefits.[vatrooper.com]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Virginia Retirement System (VRS), State Police Officers' Retirement System (SPORS) Plan 2
- Benefit formula: Average final compensation (highest 60 consecutive months) × 1.85% × years of service credit; plus hazardous duty supplement (to Social Security normal retirement age) with 20+ years of hazardous duty service
- When you can retire: Unreduced at age 60 with 5 years, or age 50 with 25 years; reduced at age 50 with 5 years
Member contributes 5% pre-tax; vested after 5 years. Overview dated 04-2026.
Source:[varetire.org]