El Paso is a city in far western Texas with a population of over 680,000.1 The cost of living in El Paso runs approximately 18.1% below the national average.2 The El Paso Police Department (EPPD) employs more than 1,000 sworn officers to serve and protect residents throughout the city.3 Men and women who want to join the El Paso Police Department will find information on the application, selection, and training process below.

El Paso Police Officer Requirements

The EPPD uses a competitive, multi-step process to hire new officers. Candidates must first meet the department’s minimum qualifications:4

  • Must be at least 21 years old by the fourth month of the academy; there is no maximum age limit
  • Must be a US citizen (born or naturalized), or an honorably discharged Legal Permanent Resident with at least two years of US military service per Texas Senate Bill 252; must reside within the US
  • Must hold a current, valid driver’s license and proof of liability insurance
  • Must hold a high school diploma or GED plus six months of work experience involving public contact, or at least two years of full-time active military service with an honorable discharge; no prior law enforcement experience is required
  • No conviction for any combination of three or more moving violations and/or at-fault motor vehicle accidents within the preceding 36 months
  • Not currently under criminal indictment; not currently on probation or parole
  • No conviction of any family violence offense at any time
  • No dishonorable or misconduct-based discharge from the military
  • Stable credit history

The hiring process begins with an online application submitted through the EPPD recruiting website. Those who qualify are invited to a written examination covering three components: a situational judgment video test, a written report writing assessment, and a reading comprehension test. Passing candidates advance to a physical ability and job simulation stage that includes timed running courses, a wall climb, and a body drag exercise. Those who clear that hurdle complete a personal history statement and a comprehensive background investigation, followed by a polygraph examination and a structured oral interview before a panel of EPPD officers and staff. Finalists undergo medical, psychological, and physical examinations along with drug screening before receiving an invitation to an upcoming academy class.

For more information about becoming a law enforcement officer in a big city like El Paso, check out 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on the how-to-become-a-police-officer.com home page. For full details on each step and to apply, visit the EPPD recruiting page.

El Paso Police Department Training Academy

All EPPD recruits must complete the department’s 36-week Training Academy before being sworn in as officers.4 Instruction covers criminal law, report writing, investigation principles, defensive tactics, vehicle operations, and firearms training, with the program culminating in the TCOLE state licensing examination required for certification as a Texas peace officer. CrossFit is the academy’s primary strength and conditioning method. Classes meet Monday through Friday, with some evening and weekend sessions required. Recruits are not housed on academy premises and are responsible for arranging their own accommodations during training.

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

During the academy, EPPD recruits earn $24.57 per hour.5 After graduating and being sworn in, officers advance through the following base salary schedule, effective September 1, 2025:5

RankMin AnnualMax Annual
Police Officer (0–4 years)$56,790$65,742
Advanced Officer / Detective (5–8 years)$69,029$79,910
Senior Officer (9–18 years)$84,025$98,420
Sergeant$89,039$111,474
Lieutenant$95,588$126,303
Commander$109,944$145,271

Officers may earn additional monthly pay through TCOLE proficiency certificates ($83.33–$166.66 per month depending on certification level) and educational incentive pay ranging from $75 per month for an associate’s degree to $250 per month for a master’s degree. A 6% shift differential applies to hours worked between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on weekday evenings and over weekends.5

EPPD officers are eligible for medical and dental benefit options through the City of El Paso’s health program, along with term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Officers accrue up to 144 hours of vacation per year during their first ten years of service and earn sick leave at 10 hours per month. A tuition assistance program is available after the initial probationary period. The city contributes to the pension fund an amount equal to three times each officer’s own contribution, up to a maximum of 18.5% of total compensation. Officers with 20 or more years of vesting service who have reached age 45 are eligible to retire and receive a pension calculated at 2.5% multiplied by years of credited service.5

Texas employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 11% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 5,460 new positions added per year on average.6 The number of officers hired by the EPPD in any given year depends on the city’s budget and the rate of retirements and resignations. Find open El Paso police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at the EPPD

After completing four years on the job, officers may apply for promotion to detective. Advancement to detective and all supervisory ranks above is determined through eligibility lists based on promotional examinations, assessment centers, and time in service. Officers are also required to complete at least 45 college credit hours within their first three years on the job. The salary schedule effective September 1, 2025 reflects the compensation increase at each rank: detectives earn $69,029–$79,910 annually, sergeants $89,039–$111,474, lieutenants $95,588–$126,303, and commanders $109,944–$145,271.5

Cities and Police Departments Near El Paso

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 1,450 police and sheriff’s patrol officers are employed in the El Paso metropolitan area, with a mean annual wage of $69,690.7 Law enforcement professionals in the region may also find opportunities with the Las Cruces Police Department in neighboring New Mexico and the Socorro Police Department in El Paso County. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Texas page.

Additional Resources

  • El Paso Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 82 — The El Paso lodge of the national Fraternal Order of Police, serving active and retired law enforcement officers in the region.
  • EPPD Recruiting — Current hiring information, testing dates, and the online application for entry-level and lateral officers.
  • Texas Commission on Law Enforcement — Sets minimum standards for law enforcement officers and agencies statewide and administers basic and advanced training and certification examinations.

El Paso Police Department Contact

References:
1. US Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates, El Paso city, TX: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elpasocitytexas/PST045224
2. Sperling’s Best Places, Cost of Living, El Paso, TX: https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/texas/el_paso
3. El Paso Police Department: https://eppd.org/ — Officer count corroborated by EPPD Sgt. Gomez (“hovering around the 1100 mark”), KFOX14, May 21, 2025: https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/el-paso-police-force-struggles-to-keep-pace-with-citys-rapid-growth
4. EPPD Recruiting, Police Trainee Requirements: https://www.joineppd.com/police-trainee
5. EPPD Recruiting, Salary and Benefits: https://www.joineppd.com/salary
6. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections, Texas, 2022–2032 (via O*NET): https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/33-3051.00?st=TX&g=Go
7. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, El Paso, TX: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes_21340.htm