The below listed salary figures are comparisons only for what a cadet, who successfully graduates to become a sworn Austin Police Officer could earn and are eligible to receive once they are deemed qualified to receive that yearly pay. Amounts will vary depending on what set of specialties or stipends each individual cadet is qualified to receive once they become sworn Austin Police Officers.

• Cadet Starting Salary: $2,666.75 monthly salary for 8 months as a cadet. A cadet with full GI Bill benefits could earn up to an extra $1400 monthly during the academy. GI Bill benefits would also continue for an additional 3 to 4 months of Field Officer Training after graduation. Health, dental and retirement benefits start the first day of the academy for the employee. Spouse, family and dependents are also covered under the employee benefits starting the first day of the academy.

• Probationary Officer Salary: $53,945, an officer assigned to a shift starting after 2pm, is a Bi-Lingual interpreter and has a Bachelors Degree would earn $62,285 per year ($3,600 per year for shift differential, $2,100 for Bi-Lingual Interpreter and $2,640 for a Bachelors Degree). Amounts could vary for type of degree earned if any.

• Police Officer 1 Year Anniversary Salary: $63,352 an officer with the same general description as the Probationary Officer but also receives one year of longevity pay for $100 would earn $70,722 per year.

• Police Officer 2 Year Anniversary Salary: $68,819, an officer with the same general description as the 1 Year Officer but receives 2 years of longevity pay at $200 and becomes a Field Training Officer ($2,100 per year) and Crisis Intervention Officer($2,100 per year) would earn $81,559 per year.

The above figures do not include any departmental overtime received from late assignments, court appearances and voluntary assignments an officer may accrue during the year.

Listed below our current pay scales are the benefits received in addition to your base salary. If the officer possesses additional specialties from the list below, their base salary increases substantially per year.

View the complete pay scale

Benefits and Pay Incentives

• Field Training Officer $175 (monthly)
• Crisis Intervention Officer $175(monthly)
• Bi-Lingual Pay $175 (monthly)
• Shift Differential Pay $300 (monthly)
• Health Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Vacation Leave 150 hours accrued yearly
• Holidays (11)
• Personal Holidays- 16 hours
• Emergency Leave- 40 hours
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Court Overtime- Minimum 4 hours
• On Call Compensation-8 hours per week
• Call out from home Overtime- 3 hours minimum
• Dental Plan/Eye Plan
• Patrol Officers work 4 ten hour days with 3 days off
• Life Insurance
• Sick Leave 145.92 hours accrued yearly
• 23 year retirement plan (3.2 multiplier)
• Clothing allowance for select units $500
• Uniforms and associated equipment provided (except for pistols)
• Associates Degree or 60 or more college credits $100 (monthly)
• Bachelors Degree $220 (monthly)
• Masters Degree $300 (monthly)
• Master Peace Officer Pay $150 (monthly)
• 15 Military Days per year
• Sick time buyback at retirement up to 1400 hours
• Longevity Pay- $100 per year up to 25 years (yearly)
• Deferred Compensation Plan

The Austin Police Retirement system pays a pension based on a minimum 23 years of service at any age for a full retirement. It is based on the following formula: Years of service (23) X multiplier (3.2%)= percentage of base salary (73.6%). Officers may stay additional years past 23 to accrue additional retirement funds with no limit. Military personnel are eligible to purchase an additional 2 years into the retirement system added on after 23 years of service with the Austin Police Department. Compared to most police departments in Texas and the United States our retirement system ranks as one of the best. Most police agencies offer a 20 year retirement at 50% of their pay.