Colorado Springs is the second-largest city in Colorado, with a population of over 490,000.1 Set at the base of Pikes Peak in El Paso County, the city features a strong military presence, a growing economy, and wide-open access to Rocky Mountain recreation. The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) hires both entry-level recruits and lateral officers, running academies every 18 weeks. Candidates interested in joining the CSPD will find the requirements, application process, academy, and pay scale summarized below.

Colorado Springs Police Officer Requirements

Applicants to the Colorado Springs Police Department must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  • Be at least 21 years of age by the date of hire (there is no maximum age)
  • Be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident eligible to own and carry a firearm
  • Provide documents establishing identity and authorization to work in the US
  • Not have been released from the US Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions
  • Possess a valid driver’s license
  • Obtain a valid Colorado driver’s license by the academy start date
  • Possess a high school diploma or GED
  • Have no felony convictions
  • Have no conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
  • Have no misdemeanor conviction that would prevent certification by the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board
  • Pass the department’s Physical Readiness Test (PRT) and meet CSPD medical standards

Applications are accepted year-round for academies that begin every 18 weeks. After submitting an application, candidates receive information about the online written examination and oral board. Those who score in Bands A through D move forward to the background investigation, followed by a polygraph, medical exam, and psychological evaluation. Candidates who clear every stage may receive a conditional offer and a seat in a recruit academy class. Lateral candidates with current Colorado POST Level I certification (or an equivalent from another state or federal jurisdiction) and three years of paid patrol experience within the last five years follow a similar but streamlined track. For full application details, see the CSPD Careers page. For an overview of what it takes to enter law enforcement in a major city, see 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on our home page.

Colorado Springs Police Department Training Academy

The CSPD Training Academy is a nationally accredited, closed academy open only to applicants who have been hired as CSPD recruits or lateral officers. The program runs 26 weeks, and recruits are paid employees of the department for its full duration.2 Training covers arrest control, driving, firearms, physical fitness, and classroom instruction in criminal law and procedure. Recruits must pass the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification exam at the end of the academy before being sworn in. Field training with a CSPD training officer follows the academy and precedes the transition to solo patrol duties.

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

Newly hired recruits enter the academy at a monthly base of $5,525 ($31.87 per hour). Upon graduation, recruits are promoted to Police Officer 4th Class (P4), and thereafter advance one grade each year on the graduation anniversary, from P4 to P3 to P2 and finally to P1. Lateral hires who meet the qualifying experience requirements start at the P2 grade ($42.95 per hour).3

Service TimeAnnual Base SalaryMonthly Base
Police Recruit (Academy)$66,300$5,525
Police Officer 4th Class (Post-Academy)$73,548$6,129
Police Officer 3rd Class (After 1 Year)$81,060$6,755
Police Officer 2nd Class (Lateral Start / After 2 Years)$89,328$7,444
Police Officer 1st Class (After 3 Years, Top Step)$102,396$8,533

CSPD officers receive medical, dental, and vision benefit options, short- and long-term disability coverage, basic and voluntary term life insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and funeral leave, plus uniforms, longevity pay, education assistance, and deferred compensation. Sworn officers participate in the city’s sworn pension plan.3

In Colorado, employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 15% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 1,040 new positions added each year on average, according to Projections Central.4 Openings in any given year at CSPD depend on retirements, attrition, and the city’s public safety budget.

Find open Colorado Springs police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at CSPD

CSPD officers advance through the four officer grades (P4 through P1) on the anniversary of academy graduation, reaching the top patrol step after three years of service. Beyond the officer ranks, officers may pursue promotion through a competitive process to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Commander. Under the current pay scale, a Sergeant earns a monthly base of $10,366 ($124,392 annual), a Lieutenant earns $12,212 monthly ($146,544 annual), and a Commander earns $13,691 monthly ($164,292 annual).3 Promoted officers may also serve in investigative, specialty, and leadership assignments across the department.

Cities and Police Departments Near Colorado Springs

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 1,210 police and sheriff’s patrol officers work in the Colorado Springs, CO metropolitan area, with a mean annual wage of $83,060 as of May 2024.5 In addition to the Colorado Springs Police Department, law enforcement candidates in the Pikes Peak region can explore opportunities with the Fountain Police Department, the Pueblo Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the Castle Rock Police Department, and other municipal and county agencies across southern Colorado. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Colorado page.

Additional Resources

Colorado Springs Police Department Contact

1. US Census Bureau, QuickFacts, Colorado Springs city, Colorado: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/coloradospringscitycolorado/PST045224
2. Colorado Springs Police Department, Police Training Academy: https://coloradosprings.gov/police-department/page/police-training-academy
3. Colorado Springs Police Department, CSPD Salary & Benefits: https://coloradosprings.gov/police-department/page/cspd-salary-benefits
4. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections, Colorado (via O*NET OnLine, SOC 33-3051): https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/33-3051.00?st=CO
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 OES, Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0017820