How to Become a Police Officer in Washington

Those hoping to work in law enforcement in Washington can look forward to a career with plenty of opportunities for growth. Over 9,600 patrol officers and sheriff’s deputies are employed in Washington state, earning an annual average salary of $78,600.¹ Known for its varied and beautiful geography including mountains, rainforest, and rugged coastline, as well as the cosmopolitan city of Seattle, Washington is a great place to live. The minimum standards for police officers in Washington are set by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC). Hiring agencies may also set requirements that exceed the state minimums. Continue reading to learn more about becoming a police officer in Washington.

Washington Police Officer Requirements

All police recruits in Washington must meet the minimum standards set by the WSCJTC. The commission also provides education and training courses that are in line with best practices through the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA). Note, however, that local departments may set additional requirements for their recruits. To meet minimum standards a hopeful recruit must:

Be at least 21 years old
Be a citizen of the US
Hold a high school diploma or GED
Have very limited to no recreational (legal) drug use
Have a valid Washington state driver’s license
Have no history of felony convictions
Have no history of domestic violence

In addition to the minimum requirements, the WSCJTC suggests several attributes that are useful for recruits to have and which may increase their chances of receiving an offer of employment:

Some college education or a degree
A history of community service
Military service
Knowledge of other languages
Excellent physical conditioning
High moral and ethical standards

Required Exams

In Washington, state law describes the tests any prospective peace officer must pass to become certified. These include a background investigation and criminal history check, a psychological evaluation, and a polygraph test. Most hiring agencies also require a pre-screening written exam and personal history questionnaire as well as a physical fitness test. Once given a provisional offer of employment by one of the state’s law enforcement departments, new recruits must complete training at the police academy.

“Those who aspire to careers in law enforcement should understand that in addition to enforcing the laws and keeping our communities safe, a big part of our job is customer service. Prospective officers would benefit from obtaining work experience in service-oriented jobs where they have a considerable amount of face-to-face contact with the public, developing communication skills, and learning to problem-solve.” -LT. Lisa Brouelette, Kirkland Police Department

Washington Trooper or Highway Patrol Requirements

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) employs around 600 certified troopers to patrol the state’s highways.² In 2018, the agency made over 2,400 DUI arrests and responded to 8,884 collision scenes.² The WSP has achieved accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for the last three decades and strives to be a model for other agencies. Potential Washington state troopers must:

Be at least 19.5 years of age at the written testing date, 21 at hire
Meet the minimum hiring requirements set by the WSCJTC
Have no tattoos or other body art visible while in uniform
Not have been in possession of illicit drugs in the last five years
Be able to work weekends, nights, and holidays
Be prepared to accept an assignment anywhere in the state
Not have any felony or DUI convictions
Be financially responsible
Demonstrate good moral character

Testing dates for the written and physical ability exams required of prospective trooper cadets are regularly held in cities across the state. The WSP suggests that interested candidates contact a recruiter prior to applying or testing. The starting pay for cadets in training is $56,184 per year, which rises to $63,360 per year for certified troopers.²

Washington Sheriff’s Deputy Requirements

Each county in the state of Washington has a sheriff’s department with an elected sheriff and hired deputies. The deputies perform law enforcement duties within the county and may coordinate with other agencies like the Washington State Police. To become a deputy sheriff, recruits must meet the standards set by the WSCJTC. Each county may pose additional requirements for deputies, such as prior experience working as a commissioned police officer.

King County

King County is the most populous county in the state and the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) has a corresponding deputy presence of over 700 sworn officers and over 1,000 employees in total.³ Deputy recruits must meet the WSCJTC standards as well as those set by the King County Sheriff during the applicable recruiting period. Those interested in applying are strongly encouraged to register for and attend a deputy information session.

Pierce County

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) serves the state’s second-largest county, which is home to the large city of Tacoma. The PCSD serves over 875,000 residents countywide.⁴ Pierce County is always looking for good candidates for deputies. Recruits must meet the basic WSCJTC requirements and achieve a minimum score of 70% on an entrance exam. Law enforcement deputies with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department earn a starting salary of $61,985 per year, which can rise up to $92,682 per year.⁴

“Almost everyone in policing will tell you it is about wanting to serve. That is true, but it is so much more than that. There are so many different ways to give back to your community, and doing so through policing is different – in both amazing and challenging ways. Policing has changed since the time I joined the SPD, and more than ever it is about meeting people where they are at, which often is when they are at their most challenging. Officers are expected to provide so many types of services, and stereotypical police work like high-speed pursuits, stakeouts, and takedowns are less common. Police are frontline service providers – working with youth, assisting unsheltered people, and helping bring communities together. You should love being out in the community and be full of compassion, understanding, and patience.” -Chief Carmen Best, Seattle Police Department

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Police Departments in Washington

There are 272 law enforcement agencies in Washington. Applicants hoping to work in law enforcement in Washington may work for the state police, a sheriff’s office, or one of the many municipal police departments. There are plenty of opportunities across the state, though three cities employ the largest staffs of commissioned police officers: Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma. To work for any police department in the state, a recruit must meet the WSCJTC minimum requirements, receive a conditional offer, and successfully complete the training academy.

Seattle

Seattle is the largest city in Washington with a population of over 713,000.⁵ The city is served by a police force of over 1,400 full-time commissioned police officers within the Seattle Police Department (SPD).⁵ To become a Seattle police officer, recruits must meet the minimum WSCJTC requirements and:

Be at least 20.5 years of age when taking the written exam and 21 at hire
Hold a valid Washington driver’s license prior to hire
Have a clean criminal history and traffic record
Have a good employment history
Have a reasonable credit history with no failures to pay taxes or child support
Have a professional appearance

Seattle police recruits earn $28.99 per hour while in training, which rises to a salary of $81,444 per year upon swearing-in, with regular increases thereafter.⁵ Under the current pay schedule, after 30 months of service, Seattle police officers are paid a base salary of $94,824 per year.⁵

For more on the hiring process in Seattle and other important information, check out our Seattle guide.

Spokane

The Spokane Police Department (SPD) has over 300 sworn officers patrolling the city and always welcomes applications from promising recruits.⁶ In addition to the WSCJTC requirements, applicants must:

Have completed at least 30 credit hours of college coursework (to include at least three credits of English) with a GPA of 2.0 or higher
Possess a valid driver’s license
Be within normal weight for their height
Be at least 20 years of age at the time of application and 21 at hire

The starting salary for Spokane police officers is $48,587 per year, and officers can earn up to $84,459 per year in base salary with experience.⁶

Tacoma

Tacoma is Washington’s third-largest city and has a sizable police force in the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) working to keep its residents safe. New recruits hoping to become officers must meet the WSCJTC minimum requirements to be considered and have a current Washington driver’s license as well as current First Aid and CPR certification. The starting pay for Tacoma police officers is $32.22 per hour.⁷

Police Training Academies in Washington

The only basic police training academy in Washington is the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, or BLEA, run by the WSCJTC in Burien. Recruits whose hiring agency is more than 40 miles away from the Criminal Justice Training Center are eligible for on-site lodging throughout the academy. The only way to enroll in the academy is first to be offered a conditional position with one of the state’s recognized law enforcement agencies, including the Washington State Police, a sheriff’s office, or a city police department. The BLEA does not accept self-sponsored applicants.

Recruits attending the BLEA learn all the basic skills needed to be a law enforcement officer across 720 hours of training. These include criminal law and procedures, cultural awareness, traffic enforcement, communication skills, firearms skills, crisis prevention, patrol procedures, and defensive tactics. Many hiring agencies require additional training, such as field training, after officers graduate from the academy.

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Washington Police Jobs Outlook

Growth in police and deputy sheriff positions in the state of Washington is expected to be strong in the coming years. From now through 2026, projections anticipate a 10.5% jobs growth rate for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in Washington, with 770 average annual openings in the state.⁸ This growth along with the statewide average annual police salary of $78,600 (the fourth-highest in the US) demonstrates the opportunities for new cops and sheriff’s deputies in the Washington.⁹

For more information about current law enforcement openings, take a look at our police jobs board.

Police and Sheriff Patrol Officer Salary in Washington

City	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett	3,919	$86,460
Spokane-Spokane Valley	570	$71,780
Tacoma-Lakewood	970	$81,640

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of March 2018.¹

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Washington: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_wa.htm
2. Washington State Patrol: https://www.wsp.wa.gov/
3. King County Sheriff’s Office: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff.aspx
4. Pierce County Sheriff’s Department: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/121/Sheriff
5. Seattle Police Department: https://www.seattle.gov/police/
6. Spokane Police Department: https://my.spokanecity.org/police/
7. Tacoma Police Department: https://www.cityoftacoma.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=11953
8. Projections Central: https://www.projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm
9. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333051.htm