How to become a state trooper in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin State Patrol (Wisconsin Department of Transportation) hires state troopers under the title State Patrol Trooper. New state troopers start at $75,462 a year, rising to $104,333 after about 7 years. You must be at least 18.
Pay
| Starting salary | $75,462 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $104,333 |
| Years to top | 7 |
WSP pay scale (hourly; annual = hourly × 2080): 0 months $36.28; 6 months $37.11; 2 years $37.70; 3 years $38.30; 4 years $39.20; 5 years $41.29; 6 years $43.69; 7 years $50.16. Cadets complete paid academy training. Lateral salary depends on years of service. Effective date not shown on the page.
Source:[wisconsindot.gov]
Pay for this work across Wisconsin
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Wisconsin, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 12,320 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $58,530 |
| Median pay | $78,090 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $94,450 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: Two-year associate degree from an accredited technical college or at least 60 college-level credits from an accredited university before starting the Academy (waivers possible for ACE-evaluated training/military experience via DOJ form DJ-LE-331)
- Citizenship: U.S. citizenship not required; must be authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship
- Must be 18 years old when the application is submitted
- Meet Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board minimum standards
- Vision: uncorrected at least 20/100 each eye, correctable to 20/20; vision surgery at least six months before appointment
- Hearing: no more than 35 dB loss in either ear (500-3000 Hz average)
- No felony or misdemeanor domestic violence convictions unless pardoned
- Must accept any location or assignment (Trooper or Inspector); assignments chosen by class rank at graduation
Source:[wisconsindot.gov]
Hiring process
- Online application
- Physical readiness testing (PRT)
- Background investigation (may include FBI fingerprinting)
- Interview
- Conditional offer
- Pre-employment medical exam, drug screening and psychological testing
- Final offer and State Patrol Academy
Source:[wisconsindot.gov]
Academy
22 weeks, paid. 73rd traditional recruit class timetable: 22-week class reporting July 12, 2026, graduating Dec. 18, 2026 (careers page describes 'six months' of paid training). Cadets live at the State Patrol Academy during the week and go home on weekends; room and board provided.[wisconsindot.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), protective occupation category with Social Security (administered by ETF)
- Benefit formula: Final average monthly earnings (highest 3 annual earnings) × creditable service × 2.0% (protective with Social Security, service after 1999); maximum 65% of final average earnings; or money-purchase calculation if higher
- When you can retire: Minimum retirement age 50; normal (unreduced) retirement age 53 with 25+ years of creditable service, or 54 with less than 25 years; reduced 0.4% per month below normal retirement age
- Social Security: yes, you also pay in
ETF's multiplier table lists 'Protective with Social Security (police, county jailers, prison guards, sheriffs, deputies)'; members first employed on/after July 1, 2011 need five years of service to vest. Brochure ET-4107 rev. 3/5/2025.
Source:[etf.wi.gov]