How much money do texas state troopers make

How much does a Highway Patrol make in Texas? Sttate ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. Individualize employee staye based troopera unique job requirements and personal qualifications. Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry. Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence. Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity. Highway Patrol patrols assigned geographic area and makes note of unusual or suspicious events. Resolves disputes and enforces traffic laws. Being a Highway Patrol may require a bachelor’s degree in a related area and years of experience in the field or in a related area. Must meet physical and personal requirements. Additionally, Highway Patrol has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Works under immediate supervision.

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How to Become a Texas State Trooper

The patrol’s primary duties are enforcement of state traffic laws and commercial vehicle regulation, but it is a fully empowered police agency with authority to enforce criminal law anywhere in the state. Highway patrol troopers are also responsible for patrolling the state Capitol Complex in Austin and providing security to the governor. The highway patrol was founded in as the Highway Motor Patrol, the first statewide law enforcement agency in Texas since the establishment of the Texas Rangers in , and the first such force to be uniformed and regularly trained. Since , the agency has operated under its current name. Since its inception with just 60 officers, then known as «inspectors», the Texas Highway Patrol has grown to meet the increasing volume of vehicular traffic on Texas roads, modern security threats, and the requirements of twenty-first century policing, currently employing over 2, sworn troopers. Early law enforcement in Texas began with the establishment of the Texas Rangers in by Stephen F. The Rangers were originally formed to protect American settlers from Indian attacks, and over the years transformed into a paramilitary force.

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These are law enforcement positions at the state level, rather than the community or local level, adding an additional degree of responsibility to protecting the public, and sometimes more diverse duties.

Approximatelymen and women served as state troopers in In addition to meeting these responsibilities at the state level, troopers also sometimes provide support and assistance to local law enforcement units. These duties may include:. Troopers must maintain excellent records of all these actions in the event that they must later testify to these incidents and crimes in court.

State troopers serve as an important backup for local police in smaller towns and rural areas. They also effectively monitor moving violation activity for large vehicles, such as semi-trucks, that operate on state and interstate highways.

Pay can depend to some extent on a state’s fiscal health. These figures are national averages. Additional skills, such as speaking multiple languages, can put a state trooper at the top of the pay grade. Source: U. Bureau of Labor Statistics Most states also provide troopers with excellent benefits packages, including earlier retirement than other professions. Applicants must also be a U. The minimum age for state troopers can vary from state to state, but it’s typically either 19 or 21 years old.

Other tests include a physical examination that includes an EKG and blood pressure check and an eye exam to test vision, depth perception, and the ability to see colors. Not all necessary skills for becoming a state trooper are taught in training.

Some are inherent or are traits you can develop before applying. Public safety will always be an issue, and this job will always be vital as crime rates fluctuate due to various factors. Individual states’ population growth or decline can affect the number of jobs available. This can be a physically challenging career, and it’s often stressful and dangerous.

Not every civilian is overjoyed when a trooper turns up at a scene. Expect to be yelled at, spit on, hit, and even worse. Potential health concerns and other inherent dangers are associated with the job as. The illness and injury rates in this profession are among the highest of any career.

Dealing daily with the misfortune of others and untimely deaths can be particularly stressful and affect troopers emotionally as. This is almost always full-time work, and it can include long and irregular hours. Shift work is common because state police forces can’t turn out the lights and call it a night at the end of a long day, leaving the public unprotected.

Before you apply for state trooper jobs, get your cover letter and resume in order. Review and update your education, work and volunteer experience, and any skills that may be applicable to the job. A state trooper job requires good physical fitness, and you must live or plan to be living in the county of employment before your job’s start date.

Meet others working as state troopers and police officers by attending events organized by industry associations. Many of these organizations also list job openings on their websites and some may also offer scholarships.

Find these organizations by searching sites such as Go Law Enforcement. Check the careers section to locate job openings. Look at job search resources such as Indeed. Several other occupations are geared toward public safety and law enforcement as well, including:.

Law Enforcement Forensic Science. Criminology Careers Career Profiles. By Timothy Roufa. Patrol assigned neighborhoods and areas when trouble is suspected. Respond to calls for emergency and non-emergency situations. Monitor and control traffic, usually on state-owned highways and federal interstates. Assist in crime scene investigation, gather and secure evidence, monitor suspects, and search buildings and vehicles.

Make arrests and record the events and details in written reports. Education : At least a high school diploma or GED is needed to become a state trooper. An associate’s or bachelor’s degree can put a candidate ahead of the competition. Experience : States place a premium on military experienceand veterans often find that state police agencies are a great fit when they transition to civilian life. Working as a military police officer or in another law enforcement or security-related field while serving in the armed forces can be beneficial.

The purpose of the test is to make sure candidates have the critical thinking and comprehension skills necessary to work in law enforcement. They may also measure flexibility and vertical jump. These tests often have a time limit that is universal regardless of age or gender. The physical abilities test is one measure of whether a candidate how much money do texas state troopers make physically capable of doing the job.

Psychologists use the exam to advise state police and highway patrols whether an applicant would be a good fit for the job. The exam measures honesty, maturity, intelligence, and ability to handle pressure or stress. Background Investigations : The most unnerving step in the hiring process to be a state trooper might be the polygraph exam. The questions are designed to measure honesty and to make sure that there’s no problematic issue in a candidate’s past that should prevent them from becoming a trooper.

Academy Training : State police units traditionally hold the toughest and most comprehensive training academies. Field Training : Candidates are required to put everything they learned in the academy into practice when they get to this training level. They ride with a field training officer who shows them what it’s like to work in law enforcement, then makes a final determination of whether or not they have what it takes to be a trooper.

Tirelessness : Troopers are often in a position where they must manage fatigue. They must remain alert and ready to respond in an instant no matter how tired they are. Critical-thinking skills: Even though it may not be specifically required, a college education can provide useful critical-thinking skills that a trooper may not get anywhere. Ability to work with others: Experience dealing with the public, such as waiting tables or in sales, can build great people skills.

Many agencies require some prior work experience that involves interacting with the public. Overall good health: The overall rigors associated with life as a trooper can be extreme. Article Table of Contents Skip to section Expand. Job Outlook. Work Environment. Work Schedule. Comparing Similar Jobs. Continue Reading.

Learn About the Salary, Required Skills, & More

The Texas Highway Patrol Division has responsibility for rural highway traffic and criminal law enforcement across trooprrs state. To become a Texas State Trooper, prospective recruits are required to have completed at least 60 credit hours at a regionally accredited college or have at shate 24 months of active duty military or peace officer service. A combination of college and military service will also be accepted. Applicants must be US citizens at least 20 years of age with no felony convictions and have a valid driver’s license. Those who qualify doo also pass a physical readiness test and a written exam. Those who meet these qualifications and rank based on their placement in these categories will be invited to attend how much money do texas state troopers make oral interview. Candidates who are still in the selection process at this stage monej be required to complete psychological and medical exams. After graduating from the LEE training program and completing a probationary period, recruits will become fully sworn Texas State Troopers. A Texas State Trooper ensures the safety of citizens and visitors within state boundaries. Texas State Troopers are primarily tasked with enforcing state motor vehicle and criminal laws on the state’s thousands of miles of roadways.