Seattle is the largest city in Washington with a population of over 737,000.1 Known for its waterfront, tech industry, and proximity to the Cascades and Puget Sound, Seattle offers a dynamic environment for law enforcement professionals. The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is actively recruiting both entry-level and lateral officers. Men and women who want to join the Seattle Police Department will find information on the application, selection, and training process below.

Seattle Police Officer Requirements

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

  • Be at least 20.5 years of age at the time of the written exam
  • Be a US citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a DACA recipient
  • Possess a valid driver’s license
  • Possess a high school diploma or GED
  • Not have been dishonorably discharged from the military
  • Have no felony convictions
  • Have no domestic violence convictions
  • Have no DUIs, negligent driving, or reckless driving convictions within the past five years

The SPD hiring process begins with an application through the National Testing Network (NTN). Qualified applicants complete the NTN written exam and the Washington Physical Abilities Test (WAPAT). Candidates who pass move on to a background investigation, polygraph, medical examination, and psychological evaluation. Lateral applicants–officers with prior law enforcement experience–follow a streamlined process and may be eligible for advanced step placement.

For more information about becoming a law enforcement officer in a big city like Seattle, 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 SPD recruitment page.

Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy

All SPD recruits must attend the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA), operated by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC).2 Basic training consists of a 720-hour course covering criminal law and procedures, traffic enforcement, cultural awareness, communication skills, firearms, crisis intervention, patrol procedures, criminal investigation, and defensive tactics. After graduating from BLEA, officers complete field training with SPD before beginning their one-year probationary period as patrol officers.

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

During police academy training, SPD recruits (pre-sworn) earn $6,639.84 per month. Upon graduating and being sworn in, officers enter the base salary scale below. Overtime is paid at time and one-half, with a three-hour minimum for court appearances and off-duty call-outs.3

Service TimeAnnual Base SalaryMonthly Base
Sworn Officer (Entry Level)$117,792$9,816
After 6 Months$126,336$10,528
After 18 Months$132,072$11,006
After 30 Months$137,124$11,427
After 42 Months$144,024$12,002
After 54 Months (Top Step)$154,248$12,854

Officers are eligible for additional incentive pay: 1.5% for an associate’s degree, 4% for a bachelor’s degree, 1.5% for speaking a second language, and 2% body-worn video pay after completing the one-year probationary period. Longevity pay begins at 2% after seven years of patrol service, scaling to 16% after 30 years. Entry-level officers receive a $7,500 hiring incentive plus up to $5,000 in moving expense reimbursement for those relocating more than 50 miles. Lateral officers are eligible for a $50,000 hiring incentive.3

Benefits include health, dental, and vision coverage for employees. Officers are enrolled in the Washington State LEOFF2 retirement plan, with retirement pay calculated at 2% of final average salary multiplied by years of service; officers vest after five years and may retire with full benefits at age 53 with 20 years of service.3

In Washington state, employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 10.6% from 2022 to 2032 (faster than the 3% national growth rate for this position), with an average of 1,020 annual openings, according to Projections Central.5 The number of officers hired by SPD in any given year is also affected by retirements and the city’s public safety budget.

Find open Seattle police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at SPD

All Seattle Police officers begin their careers in the Patrol Bureau. After three to five years on patrol, officers may apply to transfer into one of SPD’s specialty units. After five years, they are eligible to sit for the sergeant’s promotional exam, which is administered by civil service every other year. Promotion to lieutenant requires at least three years of service as a sergeant; promotion to captain requires at least three years as a lieutenant. A bachelor’s degree may substitute for one year of the required experience at one rank. Assistant chiefs and deputy chiefs are appointed from the command ranks by the chief of police.

Specialty unit assignments available after three to five years in patrol include Homicide, Major Crimes, Domestic Violence and Special Assault, Arson/Bomb Squad, SWAT, K-9, Harbor Unit, Traffic Collision Investigation, Crime Scene Investigation, and Crisis Intervention, among others.

Promotion to sergeant brings a significant pay increase. Under SPD’s current labor contract, sergeants start at approximately $140,000 per year and earn more as they advance through the supervisory pay scale.7 Officers who move into detective assignments can expect comparable increases; detectives in Seattle earn roughly $114,000 to $192,000 annually depending on experience and unit assignment.8

Cities and Police Departments Near Seattle

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4,880 police and sheriff’s patrol officers work in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area.4 Law enforcement professionals in the region can also explore opportunities with the Bellevue Police Department, the Everett Police Department, the Renton Police Department, the Redmond Police Department, the Tacoma Police Department, and the King County Sheriff’s Office. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Washington page.

Additional Resources

Seattle Police Department Contact

References:
1. US Census Bureau, QuickFacts, Seattle, WA: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/seattlecitywashington
2. Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission: https://www.cjtc.wa.gov/
3. Seattle Police Department Recruiting, Pay and Benefits: https://seattlepolicejobs.com/police-officer/
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Police and Detectives: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm
5. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections, Washington: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
6. Seattle Police Department, Patrol Officer Job Profile: https://www.seattle.gov/police/patrol-officer
7. PubliCola, “New Police Contract Will Boost Starting Salaries,” October 21, 2025: https://publicola.com/2025/10/21/new-police-contract-will-boost-starting-salaries-to-almost-120000/
8. Glassdoor, Police Detective Salaries, Seattle WA, November 2025: https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/seattle-police-detective-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IC1150505_KO8,24.htm