Sacramento is California’s state capital and the sixth-largest city in the state, with a population of over 520,000.1 The Sacramento Police Department (SPD) is led by Chief Katherine Lester and operates with nearly 750 sworn personnel and approximately 330 professional civilian staff.2 SPD recruits regularly for entry-level officer recruits and lateral candidates with prior California law enforcement experience. The application, training, and selection process for joining SPD as a sworn officer is outlined below.

Sacramento Police Officer Requirements

Applicants seeking to join SPD as a Police Officer Recruit must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  • Reach age 21 by the date of academy graduation
  • Be legally authorized to work in the United States
  • Hold a valid California Class C driver’s license
  • Possess a high school diploma or its GED equivalent
  • Have no felony convictions

The SPD hiring process begins with the City of Sacramento’s online civil service written examination, which applicants must pass before submitting an application through the City’s careers portal. Qualified candidates then complete a physical ability test, an oral panel interview, a comprehensive background investigation, and a polygraph examination. Candidates who clear the background phase may be invited to interview with a Deputy Chief, after which a conditional offer can be extended pending psychological and medical screenings. New hires who do not already hold a California POST Basic Certificate begin paid pre-academy work for the department until the next academy class begins.

For more information about how to become a law enforcement officer in a typical big city, check out 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on our home page. For full application details and to apply, visit the Sacramento Police Department recruitment page.

Sacramento Police Academy

The Sacramento Police Academy is a POST-certified Basic Academy program that runs 24 weeks, with a four-day, 10-hour-per-day schedule covering 942 hours of instruction.3 Coursework includes criminal law, patrol procedures, defensive tactics, firearms, ethics, report writing, cultural diversity, and physical training, alongside scenario-based practical exercises.3 Academy classes begin twice each year, in January and July, and are open to both Sacramento Police Department recruits and applicants sponsored by other agencies.3 Graduates earn a POST Basic Academy Certificate of Completion. After the academy, new officers complete field training before beginning regular patrol assignments.

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

Police Officer Recruits attending the academy are paid employees earning $40.92 per hour, with a 5% increase upon graduation.4 After being sworn in, officers move onto the base pay scale below, plus a 5.25% holiday pay differential.4,5

Pay LevelAnnual Base SalaryMonthly Base
Officer (Entry)$89,383$7,449
Officer (Top of Base Range)$119,781$9,982
Officer (Top Step)$141,627$11,802

With assignment, certificate, language, and longevity incentives stacked on top of base pay, total annual compensation can reach $172,763.5 Officers who hold a bachelor’s degree receive an additional 5% above base pay.5

The City of Sacramento provides full-time SPD employees with medical, dental, and vision benefit options, paid vacation and sick leave, and an on-duty wellness program with workout time.4,5 Retirement is provided through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), along with a 457 deferred compensation plan and a health savings account.4 Tuition reimbursement of up to $1,500 per year is available for higher education.4

California employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 3.4% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 5,180 new positions added each year on average, according to Projections Central.6 The mean annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro area is $111,190.7 For information on current SPD law enforcement positions, see our jobs board.

Career Advancement at SPD

All Sacramento Police officers begin their careers in patrol after completing the academy and field training. Officers can pursue specialty-unit assignments and earn additional pay through assignment-based incentives, including 5.5% for detective duties and 9.5% for Field Training Officer (FTO) assignments.5 Sustained service brings a 4.5% longevity increase, and bilingual officers earn an additional 2%.5 SPD also recognizes intermediate and advanced California POST certificates with 5% and 8% pay differentials, respectively.5

Promotional opportunities include advancement to Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Deputy Chief, with each rank filled through civil service procedures and command-level appointments. Officers typically build several years of patrol and investigative experience before competing for promotional examinations.

Cities and Police Departments Near Sacramento

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that approximately 5,590 police and sheriff’s patrol officers work in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metropolitan area, with a mean annual wage of $111,190 as of May 2024.7 Law enforcement professionals in the region can also explore opportunities with the Citrus Heights Police Department, the Elk Grove Police Department, the Folsom Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. For more information about police departments across the state, see our California page.

Additional Resources

Sacramento Police Department Contact

1. US Census Bureau, QuickFacts, Sacramento city, California (V2024): https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sacramentocitycalifornia/PST045224
2. Sacramento Police Department, Our Team: https://joinsacpd.org/our-team.html
3. Sacramento Police Department, Training: https://joinsacpd.org/training.html
4. Sacramento Police Department, Sworn Positions: https://joinsacpd.org/sworn-positions.html
5. Sacramento Police Department, Incentives: https://joinsacpd.org/incentives.html
6. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections, California, Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers, 2022-2032: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm
7. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2024/may/oes_40900.htm