New Orleans is the most populous city in Louisiana with a population of over 360,000.1 The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) employs approximately 900 sworn officers and is actively recruiting entry-level, lateral, and part-time candidates to protect and serve the city and its visitors. Men and women who want to join the New Orleans Police Department will find information on the application, selection, and training process below.

New Orleans Police Officer Requirements

To join the NOPD, candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:2

  • Be at least 20 years old at the time of application
  • Hold a valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record and documented driving experience
  • Possess a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Be in sound physical and psychological condition to perform the essential duties of a police officer

The department also publishes a list of automatic disqualifiers covering felony convictions, certain misdemeanors, civil rights violations, recent illegal drug use, dishonorable military discharge, and an unacceptable driving record. See the full list on the NOPD hiring process page.

The NOPD hiring pipeline begins with an online application through the New Orleans Civil Service Department or with walk-in testing at 1340 Poydras Street, which runs weekday mornings beginning at 8:45 a.m. and Wednesday afternoons starting at 12:45 p.m. Candidates sit for a multiple-choice examination and writing exercise administered through the National Testing Network, followed by a panel interview and a physical agility test that includes a one-mile run, sit-ups, and push-ups. Applicants who advance go through a background investigation that includes fingerprinting, drug testing, and a computerized voice stress analysis. Those who earn a conditional offer complete medical and psychological screening before entering the academy. Out-of-town applicants can use bundled three-day testing windows and discounted lodging arranged through Civil Service.2

For more information about becoming a law enforcement officer in a big city like New Orleans, check out 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on our home page. For full details on each step and to apply, visit the NOPD recruitment site.

New Orleans Police Academy

NOPD recruits complete 27 weeks of state-certified basic law enforcement training at the New Orleans Police Academy.3 Coursework covers legal authority and criminal law, patrol tactics, firearms, defensive tactics, use of force, crisis response, investigations, and traffic enforcement, and it closes with scenario-based testing before graduation. New officers then spend about a month in field training alongside a seasoned officer before moving to solo patrol. Lateral applicants coming from within Louisiana attend a 9-week transitional academy; those transferring from out of state attend a 12-week program.3

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

NOPD recruits earn $46,885 per year during academy training. Upon completing the academy and one year of service, officers move to the base salary below. A qualified bachelor’s degree adds $2,000 to the post-probationary base, bringing first-year pay to $64,992.4

Service TimeAnnual Base SalaryMonthly Base
Recruit (Pre-Sworn)$46,885$3,907
Officer (After 1 Year)$62,992$5,249
Officer, With Qualified Bachelor’s (After 1 Year)$64,992$5,416

Longevity pay scales in seven tiers as officers accumulate time in service:4

Years of ServiceLongevity Pay Increase*
1 to 4 years+2.52%
5 to 9 years+5.09%
10 to 14 years+7.74%
15 to 19 years+10.45%
20 to 24 years+13.23%
25 to 30 years+16.08%
30+ years+19%

*Longevity increases are applied to the officer’s base salary at the corresponding years-of-service milestone.

Additional pay incentives include annual education bonuses of $1,000 for an associate’s degree, $2,000 for a bachelor’s, and $3,000 for a master’s or doctorate, plus $1,500 for field training officers and for assignments in special operations, the marine dive unit, K-9, mounted patrol, motorcycle traffic, and the bomb squad. Detectives, academy instructors, and officers in hazardous assignments receive an additional 10% above base. Officers also get a $750 annual uniform allowance, shift differential pay, and a share of a dedicated annual property-tax millage for police and firefighters.4

Benefits include group medical, dental, and vision benefit options, employer-paid life insurance, 13 paid vacation days, 13 sick days, 14 paid holidays, 15 days of paid military reserve leave, and civil service protection. Officers contribute to a defined-benefit retirement plan with optional deferred compensation accounts for additional retirement savings. NOPD is a qualifying employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation runs a tuition reimbursement program covering up to six credit hours per semester for eligible officers.4

In Louisiana, employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 5.3% from 2022 to 2032 (faster than the 3% national growth rate for this position), with approximately 1,120 new positions added each year on average, according to Projections Central.5 In the New Orleans-Metairie metropolitan statistical area, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 2,900 police and sheriff’s patrol officers earning a mean annual wage of $57,730 as of May 2024.6 Annual hiring at NOPD also depends on departmental attrition, academy class sizes, and the city’s public safety budget.

Find open New Orleans police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at NOPD

NOPD officers begin their careers in patrol and progress through the ranks of Officer, Senior Officer, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Major, with each step bringing base-pay increases on top of longevity.4 After gaining patrol experience, officers may apply for specialty assignments such as detective, field training officer, K-9 handler, marine unit diver, mounted patrol, motorcycle traffic, special operations, homicide, or bomb squad — most of which also carry dedicated pay premiums. Promotions are administered through civil service and combine tested performance with time-in-grade minimums.

Cities and Police Departments Near New Orleans

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 2,900 police and sheriff’s patrol officers work in the New Orleans-Metairie metropolitan statistical area, with a mean annual wage of $57,730 as of May 2024.6 Law enforcement professionals in the region can also explore opportunities with the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Slidell Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Louisiana page.

Additional Resources

NOPD Contact

1. US Census Bureau, QuickFacts, New Orleans city, Louisiana: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/neworleanscitylouisiana/PST045224
2. JoinNOPD, Hiring Process: https://joinnopd.org/hiring-process
3. JoinNOPD, Home: https://joinnopd.org/home
4. JoinNOPD, Salary and Benefits: https://joinnopd.org/salary-and-benefits
5. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm
6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, New Orleans-Metairie: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2024/may/oes_35380.htm