Average Police Officer Salary In North Carolina
According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics , a police officer in the state of North Carolina makes between $39.450 $43,220 per year. However the data collected by BLS is not very accurate because it does not record overtime pay or off duty work assignments. These two factors, if included in the data, would increase the average salary of a police officer in NC.
Requirements & Disqualification Factors
As for the state minimums, all police officers in the state must be U.S. citizens and at least 20 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent GED certificate. As is the case with other states, North Carolina has an extensive list of disqualifying factors involving criminal convictions and drug use. Here are some.
- You may not be a police officer in North Carolina if you have been convicted of a felony or a crime for which the sentence could have been imprisonment for more than two years.
- You cannot be certified a police officer in the state if you have been convicted within five years prior to applying for a job of what the state defines as a Class B misdemeanor.
- Domestic violence convictions will disqualify a candidate because federal law prohibits anyone convicted of domestic violence from carrying a handgun.
Police Departments In North Carolina
In 2017 there were about 23,370 sheriff and police patrol officers in North Carolina.4 From the Atlantic Ocean on its east coast to the mountainous terrain of its western border, North Carolina has communities of all sizes from rural to metropolitan that can provide rewarding careers for aspiring police officers. Law enforcement candidates must meet state and local requirements, complete a state-approved training academy, and complete on-the-job field training.
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North Carolina Police Officer Requirements
Except for deputy sheriffs, detention officers, and others employed in sheriffs offices , law enforcement officer standards in North Carolina are overseen by the Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission. The Commission sets minimum standards for certified police officers, though individual jurisdictions are free to set more strict requirements. At a minimum, police applicants in North Carolina must:
- Be at least 20 years old
- Be a United States citizen
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Be of good moral character
- Not have committed or been convicted of any felonies or disqualifying misdemeanors
- Be fingerprinted and allow disclosure of any criminal record
Safer Businesses & Neighborhoods
From private event security to the arrest of perpetrators, Capitol Special Police is authorized to handle all aspects of law enforcement. Our office will even conduct emergency response planning and training seminars to optimize your communitys security. We are certified by the Company Police program and our officers undergo rigorous background checks. Potential candidates are reviewed by the State Company Police Administrator. We accept only the finest, most highly-disciplined police officers because the better the officer, the safer you will be. With Capitol Special Police, you come first.
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Salary Benefits And Jobs Outlook
Police trainees with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department receive a starting salary of $44,362.4 During training and throughout the time of service, the CMPD offers 5% incentive pay for associates degree holders and 10% incentive pay for bachelors degree holders.4 The department also offers an additional 5% incentive pay for proficiency in its five most-desired languages.4 All officers receive medical insurance, paid parental leave, and tuition reimbursement for qualifying continuing education. The department also offers a 401K retirement plan with a 5% salary contribution from the City of Charlotte.4 Officers are eligible for full retirement benefits after 30 years of service or at the age of 55.4
About 6,730 cops were employed in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill metropolitan area as of 2017.5 The annual average salary for police officers in the area is $53,310.5 The number of law enforcement officers in North Carolina is projected to increase by 9% through 2026, with about 205 job openings per year.6 With the number of new jobs for police officers increasing, Charlotte would be a great place for an aspiring cop to start a career.
For more information on current CMPD cop positions, take a look at our jobs board page.
How To Become A Police Officer In South Carolina
South Carolina is an excellent state in which to pursue a career in law enforcement. With over 11,000 men and women working as patrol officers in South Carolina, there are opportunities to find work as a police officer across the state.1 In addition, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is one of the largest local natural resource law enforcement agencies in the nation.2 Continue reading to learn more about what it takes to become a police officer in South Carolina.
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Career And Employment Outlook For Cops In Wilmington
Picking an occupation is a major decision. One of the major things to factor in while doing so is how the future looks in the profession. The occupational outlook of every job is normally dispensed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The elements that start to have an effect while forecasting this consist of the future requirement for that occupation and the spending pattern of businesses. Lets see what the career outlook of a cop look likes.
As of 2014, there were about 806,000 jobs held by police officers. This is projected to increase by around 4% in the coming decade. This growth rate is slower than the average of other jobs. This means that about 33,000 new jobs will be created for police officers within the next decade. Seeing that law enforcement officers are for the most part hired by the legislature, their employment to a great extent relies on upon the political circumstance in a district. A few urban communities might choose to devote more money to law enforcement officers and at the same time others might desire to guide their financial plan to different types of development.
South Carolina Police Officer Requirements
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety and all other state and local law enforcement agencies in South Carolina look for the best-qualified officer candidates to serve and protect the public. The South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 23, Chapter 23 sets the minimum requirements to become a sworn officer in the state. However, state and local agencies may set a higher bar for potential recruits. For example, state requirements stipulate that South Carolina police officers must have a high school diploma or equivalent, while the Mount Pleasant Police Department requires prospective officers to have at least an associate degree.
The basic standards state that candidates must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Be a United States citizen and provide either birth record or naturalization papers
- Hold a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate such as the GED
- Not have any disqualifying convictions, including for domestic violence
- Have a current drivers license with no suspensions within the past five years
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Employee Benefits And Position Information
Starting basic salary for Police Officer Trainees is $41,511.00. Upon completion of the academy and obtaining certification from the state, salary will increase to $44,738.00. For the next 3 years, the salary will be raised per city council approval. After 3 years of service as a police officer, officers advance to Senior Police Officer and are paid a salary of $47,965.00.
All police department employees, sworn and civilian, are offered the following benefits:
- Get paid while attending Basic Law Enforcement Training .
- Retirement program through the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System . The City of Asheville also provides a 401K plan with employer contributions. Sworn officers receive an additional law enforcement retirement supplement through the LGERS system.
- Mentoring and peer support for new hires.
- Tuition reimbursement for qualifying courses of study.
- Health, dental, and life insurance.
- Incentive pay for:
- Education
- Foreign language
- Night-shift
- Senior Police Officer status and Intermediate/Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates
Most non-probationary police officers have the option of taking a department vehicle home. Take-home cars are assigned by availability and seniority.
Additional information on employee benefits is available through the City of Asheville Human Resources Department.
Patrol Officer Schedule:
Specialized Units:
North Carolina Sheriff Deputy Requirements
North Carolina has 100 counties. The three most populous counties are Mecklenburg, Wake, and Guilford the county seats are Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro, respectively. Requirements for sheriffs deputies and other law enforcement positions reporting to sheriffs offices in the state are set by the Sheriffs Education and Training Standards Commission.
Although individual sheriffs offices may set a higher bar, the Commission provides minimum state requirements for all candidates. The Commission states that prospective sheriffs deputies must:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Be a US citizen
- Possess or be eligible for a valid North Carolina drivers license
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Pass a drug test
- Have no felony charges or convictions
Once hired, sheriffs deputies will be on probation for a period of 12 months, during which time they must complete at least 616 hours of training and instruction in a qualified Basic Law Enforcement Training course.3
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Becoming A Police Officer In Durham North Carolina
The Durham Police Department and its 512 sworn officers are responsible for upholding criminal and civil laws, providing safety education, and protecting and safeguarding lives and property in Durham, North Carolina.
This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to become a cop in Durham by meeting the departments police officer requirements:
- Possess a high school diploma or GED certificate
- Possess a valid drivers license with no suspensions within the last 3 years
Step 2. Attend an Open House Event
Individuals interested in becoming a police officer in Durham are encouraged to attend an open house informational session to familiarize themselves with the employment process and to receive a City of Durham application for employment .
All open house informational sessions are held at the Durham Police Headquarters on 505 West Chapel Hill Street. If you reside out of state, you can contact a recruiter at 919-560-4575 for more information.
Step 3. Take the Written Test
Provided you meet all minimum requirements for employment, you will be given a time and date at which to take the written test. Only those candidates who pass the written test are eligible to take the physical fitness test.
Step 4. Take the Physical Fitness Evaluation
Step 5. Meet with Oral Review Board
S To Become A Police Officer In North Carolina Requirements To Become A Cop
All matters of police officer certification in the state of North Carolina are regulated by the Criminal Justice Education and Training commission of the states Department of Justice, and thats really a good place to star the process of becoming a police officer in North Carolina.
Go to the DOJ website at and click on the Criminal Justice Education and Training link.
On the left side of that page, find the link for Officer Certification Programs and on that page the link for Law Enforcement Officer, Information for Applicants link will take you to the minimum requirements you need to meet to become a peace officer in North Carolina.
These minimums requirements are mandated by the state individual jurisdictions may have higher requirements to meet. You can find a list of all police departments in the state and links to their websites at . Using this list you can contact a particular agency and find out specific requirements and qualifications.
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North Carolina Police Jobs Outlook
The outlook for cops in North Carolina is positive. Through 2026, the state expects to see jobs growth in law enforcement positions of around 9.1%.7 Including replacements, an anticipated 1,700 average annual openings for police and sheriffs patrol officers should become available during that time period.7 Applicants with a bachelors degree or experience in law enforcement will have a better chance of being hired than those with none. With an average police salary of $47,440, North Carolina offers prospective cops a good place to start their careers.4
For more information current law enforcement openings, take a look at our police jobs page.
Police Training Academies In North Carolina
The North Carolina Justice Academy sets police officer training standards for the state. Many state and local agencies utilize the Edneyville and Salemburg campus facilities, instructional services, and professional staff for training. Basic, intermediate, and advanced training for law enforcement officers is offered here, and topics such as anti-terrorism, community policing, criminal investigation, traffic crash investigation, and self-defense are covered. Basic Law Enforcement Training is for entry-level individuals and covers firearms, driver training, motor vehicle law, arrest, and search and seizure.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol Academy offers its own BLET school that is 29 weeks long, located in Raleigh. Additionally, numerous community college throughout the state partner with local law enforcement agencies to provide BLET training to recruits as well as tuition-paying students. These BLET programs include:
- Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville, NC
- Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NC
- Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC
- Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC
For more information about the BLET curriculum, see the NCJA website.
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What Does A Federal Police Officer Do
When officers are hired onto a police force, they typically attend a Peace Officer Standards and Training Council -certified police academy for a certain number of hours.
The Australian Federal Police, while a federal agency, provides policing to dependent Australian Commonwealth Territories.
In addition to police officer education level, some police departments also consider the experience level of prospective recruits.
Nearly one in four local police officers worked for a department that required entry-level officers to have at least a two-year college degree..
Attorneys for a 7-year-old autistic boy who was handcuffed and held to the floor for 38 minutes by a Statesville police officer at Pressly School have begun taking depositions as they prepare for a possible trial in federal court.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Police Officer
Once you have graduated from the academy, you will start a field training program or active patrol with a more experienced officer. It can take about two to four years on average to be fully trained as a police officer, depending on your level of experience.
It is important to use your natural capabilities or attributes to your advantage. Everybody has different skills that can make them a welcome member of a team.
The following attributes will hold you in good stead out in the field and in the office:
- Diligence and attention to detail.
- Physical fitness and agility.
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Career Paths And Opportunities
Police work is not just about patrolling the streets and catching criminals. There are many different roles and careers you could apply for once you are a trained police officer. Police departments encourage and often incentivize officers to study and further their careers within the police force. A degree in law enforcement will greatly increase your chances of a promotion and a higher salary.
Here are some of the different policing jobs you could explore
What Types Of Shifts Do Officers Work
Patrol consists of four teams that work 12 hour shifts and a Power Squad which provides 8 hours of additional coverage during peak call volume hours. Patrol Teams do NOT rotate hours or days and submit a shift bid annually. Night shift teams receive a shift differential bonus which is paid quarterly.
- Team 1 : Week 1 Tuesday-Friday Week 2 Wednesday-Friday
- Team 2 : Week 1 Tuesday-Friday Week 2 Wednesday-Friday
- Team 3 : Week 1 Sunday, Monday, Saturday Week 2 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Saturday
- Team 4 : Week 1 Sunday, Monday, Saturday Week 2 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Saturday
- Power Squad Monday-Friday
The work schedule for specialty assignments varies based on the position.
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Minimum Standards For Certification
Please note that the standards listed below are the Commission mandated minimum requirements for employment as a law enforcement officer. Individual agencies may require higher standards.
Every law enforcement officer employed by an agency in North Carolina shall:
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Be at least 20 years of age
- Be a high school graduate or have passed the General Educational Development Test indicating high school equivalency
- Be of good moral character
- Have successfully completed Basic Law Enforcement Training and passed the BLET state exam.
- Satisfactorily complete the employing agencys in-service firearms training program
- Not have committed or been convicted of:
- A felony or
- A crime for which the punishment could have been imprisonment for more than two years or
- A crime or unlawful act defined as a Class B misdemeanor within the five-year period prior to the date of application for employment or
- Four or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as Class B misdemeanors regardless of the date of conviction or
- Four or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as Class A misdemeanors except the applicant may be employed if the last conviction occurred more than two years prior to the date of application for employment.