Philadelphia is home to over 1.5 million residents and is served by the fourth-largest municipal police department in the United States. The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) employs approximately 6,380 sworn officers.1,2 Men and women who want to join the PPD will find information on the application, selection, and training process below.

Philadelphia Police Officer Requirements

To join the PPD, candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  • Be at least 20 years of age at the time of appointment
  • Be a US citizen at the time of appointment
  • Establish residency in Philadelphia within one year and six months of hire
  • Possess a valid driver’s license prior to being hired
  • Possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent

The hiring process begins with an application through the PPD’s recruitment site during an open recruiting period. Applicants must pass a physical fitness test consisting of a 300-meter run, pushups (within one minute), sit-ups (within one minute), and a 1.5-mile run — scored at the 30th percentile for the applicant’s age and gender. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also requires all recruits to demonstrate reading ability at no less than the ninth-grade level via the Nelson-Denny Reading Test. Candidates must also complete an extensive background investigation, medical examination, drug screening, polygraph examination, and psychological evaluation. Military veterans may be eligible for hiring credits, and the department actively recruits veterans of the armed forces.

For more information, see 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on our homepage. For full details and to apply, visit the PPD recruitment site.

Philadelphia Police Academy

Once selected, recruits enter the Philadelphia Police Academy for basic training. [VERIFY V-1: Academy duration in weeks/hours not confirmed on current joinphillypd.com — confirm with department before adding a specific timeframe.] The curriculum is structured into five modules and 19 volumes. Academic and legal subjects include Pennsylvania criminal law and procedures, use-of-force law, search-and-seizure rules, ethics, report writing, and cultural awareness. Practical training covers firearms, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, CPR, naloxone use, de-escalation, and crisis intervention. Module 5 consists of scenario-based exercises completed at the conclusion of the program. To graduate and receive Act 120 certification, recruits must complete all MPOETC-mandated instruction, pass written examinations, meet firearms qualifications, complete physical fitness benchmarks, and pass skills assessments and evaluated scenarios.2 Upon graduation, new officers complete field training under the Field Training Officer (FTO) program before beginning a 12-month probationary period as patrol officers.2

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

During police academy training, PPD recruits earn $67,934 per year. At the six-month mark, salary increases to $72,651, with scheduled step increases up to a current maximum of $98,156 per year. Overtime is paid at time and a half. New officers also receive a $2,000 sign-on bonus.2

Benefits include medical and dental benefit options and an eye care plan — coverage begins on the first day of the academy. Officers accrue up to two weeks of vacation per year for the first five years of service, 10 hours of sick leave per calendar month, and six weeks of paid parental leave upon birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child under 18. Officers are enrolled in a pension plan from their first day of training, which vests after 10 years of service. For the first 20 years, officers accrue 2.2% of average compensation per year toward their pension; after 20 years the accrual rate is 2.0% per year. Officers with 25 consecutive years of service may retire at 54% of average total compensation regardless of age; officers who have vested with at least 10 years of service and reached age 50 may retire based on their years of service and average compensation. The PPD is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer.2

Pennsylvania employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 2,070 openings per year on average, according to Projections Central.3 The mean annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metropolitan area was [VERIFY V-2: BLS May 2024 OES metro figure — request screenshot of data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0037980] according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.4 Find open Philadelphia police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at PPD

All PPD officers begin their careers in patrol. After one year of service, officers are eligible to sit for the Corporal or Detective examination — a written multiple-choice test lasting two to three hours, with part of the scoring based on seniority. Promotion to Corporal or Detective brings a 10% pay increase. After four years of service, officers may apply for the Sergeant examination, which follows the same written format and seniority-weighted scoring. Promotion to Sergeant brings a 14% pay increase. Officers may seek further advancement to Lieutenant, Captain, Inspector, and higher command ranks later in their careers.2

Cities and Police Departments Near Philadelphia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately [VERIFY V-3: BLS metro officer count, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington MSA, SOC 33-3051] police and sheriff’s patrol officers work in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metropolitan area.4 Law enforcement professionals in the region can also explore opportunities with the Cherry Hill Police Department, the Chester Police Department, the Trenton Police Department, and the Wilmington Police Department. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Pennsylvania page.

Additional Resources

Philadelphia Police Department Contact

References:
1. US Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates, Philadelphia, PA: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/philadelphiacitypennsylvania/PST045224
2. Philadelphia Police Department Recruitment Site (JoinPhillyPD.com): https://joinphillypd.com/
3. O*NET / Projections Central, Pennsylvania Employment Trends, Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers (33-3051.00), 2022–2032: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/33-3051.00?st=PA
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic/news-release/OccupationalEmploymentAndWages_Philadelphia.htm