Dallas is one of the largest cities in the United States, with a population of over 1.3 million people.1 The Dallas Police Department (DPD) serves more than one million residents across 385 square miles with approximately 3,215 sworn officers — the largest uniformed force the department has fielded in the last seven years.2 Men and women who want to join the DPD will find information on the application, selection, and training process below.

Dallas Police Officer Requirements

To become a Dallas police officer, candidates must satisfy the following minimum qualifications:

  • Be a United States citizen
  • Hold a high school diploma or GED
  • Fall within the department’s age window — applicants must be at least 19.5 years old and must not turn 45 before the civil service exam
  • Meet one of the following education or experience thresholds: applicants aged 19.5 to 20 need at least 60 semester hours with a 2.0 GPA from an accredited institution; applicants aged 21 to 44 need at least 45 semester hours with a 2.0 GPA; or applicants aged 21 to 44 may qualify with 36 consecutive months of full-time employment in lieu of college credit
  • Veterans who completed at least three years of active duty service and received an honorable or uncharacterized discharge are exempt from the college credit requirement, as are active TCOLE Peace Officer license holders
  • For the complete list of qualifications and disqualifying factors, see the DPD Qualifications page

The hiring process begins with an online application and civil service exam through NEOGOV. The written test covers areas such as reading comprehension, map reading, mathematics, and vocabulary, and each module must be passed in full. Candidates who clear the exam are scheduled for in-person testing covering a physical readiness assessment, document verification, a polygraph, and an appearance before a review board. A thorough background investigation — typically lasting two to four months — follows for those who advance further. Candidates who receive a conditional offer then complete a psychological evaluation, a medical exam, and drug screening before proceeding to the academy.

For general guidance on entering law enforcement, see 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on our home page. For full details on the Dallas application process, visit the DPD Recruiting page.

Dallas Police Basic Training Academy

The Dallas Police Basic Training Academy runs for 40 weeks and includes 1,400 hours of instruction, combining classroom learning with a physically and mentally demanding curriculum.3 The department recommends that recruits arrive in strong physical condition, as fitness training is woven throughout the program alongside academic coursework. After completing the academy, newly commissioned officers are assigned to one of the department’s patrol divisions for 24 weeks of field training alongside experienced Field Training Officers.3

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

Dallas police officers are paid during the academy and enter the uniformed pay scale upon completing training. The table below reflects the current salary schedule for patrol officers, effective January 1, 2025.5

Service TimeMonthly BaseAnnual Base
Year 0–1$6,283$75,397
Year 1–2$6,472$77,659
Year 2–3$6,666$79,989
Year 3–4$6,866$82,389
Year 4–5$7,072$84,861
Year 5–6$7,284$87,407
Year 6–7$7,502$90,029
Year 7–8$7,728$92,730
Year 8–9$7,959$95,512
Year 9+ (Top Step)$8,198$98,377

Officers can supplement their base pay through several additional compensation programs. Those holding a bachelor’s degree receive $300 per month in education pay; officers with college hours above the minimum threshold earn $12 per month for every additional three credit hours, up to $240 per month. Fluency in a qualifying foreign language — including Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese, among others — adds $110 to $150 per month depending on proficiency. Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate, with a two-hour minimum for off-duty court appearances.4

Benefits include medical and dental benefit options, a $75,000 basic life insurance policy, and up to $1,500 per fiscal year in tuition reimbursement for job-related coursework. Officers accrue between 15 and 23 days of paid vacation annually based on years of service, along with 12 days of sick leave per year. Officers are enrolled in the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System (DPFP), a defined benefit plan to which members contribute 13.5% of their compensation while the city contributes 34.5% of base pay. Officers vest after five years and may retire with full benefits at age 58; reduced pension benefits are available to those who have reached age 53 with at least five years of service, or who have completed 20 years of service at any age.4

Texas employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 11% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 5,460 positions added on average each year, according to Projections Central.6 In the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan area, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a mean annual wage of $87,150 for police and sheriff’s patrol officers.7 Find open Dallas police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at the Dallas Police Department

All DPD officers begin their careers in patrol and advance through a competitive civil service process. Promotions to Senior Corporal, Sergeant, and Lieutenant require passing civil service examinations; ranks above Lieutenant — including Major, Deputy Chief, and Assistant Chief — are filled through appointment by the Chief of Police.4

Each step up the promotional ladder brings a meaningful salary increase. As of January 2025, Senior Corporals earn between $100,836 and $107,471 annually, Sergeants between $110,158 and $118,628, and Lieutenants between $121,594 and $130,944.5 Beyond the standard promotional path, the department includes more than 100 specialized units, giving officers a wide range of assignment options as they build experience.

Cities and Police Departments Near Dallas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 16,120 police and sheriff’s patrol officers work in the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan area.7 Officers seeking opportunities throughout the region will find active hiring at the Arlington Police Department, the Fort Worth Police Department, the Garland Police Department, the McKinney Police Department, and the Plano Police Department. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Texas page.

Additional Resources

  • Texas Fraternal Order of Police — The statewide advocacy organization for Texas law enforcement officers, representing members on wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Dallas Police Department Contact

References:
1. US Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates, Dallas city, Texas: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dallascitytexas/PST045224
2. City of Dallas, Office of the City Manager, Memorandum to Mayor and City Council, “Clarification on Dallas Police Department Hiring Goals,” June 20, 2025: https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY24-25%20Memos/Clarification%20on%20Dallas%20Police%20Department%20Hiring%20Goals.pdf
3. Dallas Police Department, Training Academy: https://www.dallaspolice.net/join-dpd/training-academy
4. Dallas Police Department, Salary and Benefits: https://www.dallaspolice.net/joindpd/Pages/SalaryBenefits.aspx
5. Dallas Police Department, Uniformed Police Salary Schedule, effective January 1, 2025: https://www.dallaspolice.net/joindpd/Shared%20Documents/Police%20Uniform%20Pay%20Schedule.pdf
6. Projections Central, 2022–2032 Long-Term Occupational Projections, Texas, via O*NET: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/33-3051.00?st=TX
7. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0019100