How much does a Texas state trooper make?

On the Texas Department of Public Safety pay schedule in effect September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2027, base salary runs from $51,255 in recruit school to $98,085 at Trooper VI, 20 years of service.

What is the starting salary for a Texas state trooper?

$51,255 a year in recruit school. Base salary for a Trooper I, after 12 month probation period: $65,851.

Texas state trooper salary, 2026

What the Texas Department of Public Safety pays a state trooper at each step, as the agency publishes it. In effect September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2027.

Base salary for a Trooper I, after 12 month probation period

$65,851

$51,255 in recruit school. $98,085 at Trooper VI, 20 years of service.

Base salary at each step

Yearly base salary, without overtime, as printed on the schedule.

Recruit (during recruit school)$51,255

Probationary Trooper (upon being commissioned)$55,441

Trooper I (after 12 month probation period)$65,851

Trooper II (4 years of service)$80,274

Trooper III (8 years of service)$85,989

Trooper IV (12 years of service)$89,789

Trooper V (16 years of service)$93,937

Trooper VI (20 years of service)$98,085

Yearly pay with overtime, as the schedule prints it

The schedule prints a second figure with overtime. The page says the Legislature authorized an expanded enforcement program that includes a 50 hour work week.

Recruit: $70,475.64 a year
Probationary Trooper: $76,231.32 a year
Trooper I: $90,545.04 a year
Trooper II: $110,376.72 a year
Trooper III: $118,234.92 a year
Trooper IV: $123,459.72 a year
Trooper V: $129,163.32 a year
Trooper VI: $134,866.92 a year

These are the schedule's own figures for a trooper who works the scheduled overtime. They are not what any trooper was actually paid.

Sergeant and agent base salary

Yearly base salary at each step.

4 years of service$89,981

8 years of service$96,080

12 years of service$100,017

16 years of service$104,434

20 years of service$107,038

Bonus, stipends and other pay

Graduation bonus: $5,000.00, one time, printed on the recruit row
Education stipend, a month: Associate $100.00, Bachelor $200.00, Masters $300.00
Peace officer certificate stipend, a month: Intermediate $100.00, Advanced $200.00, Masters $300.00
Second language stipend, a month: $100.00

Officers moving from another department

Troopers who finish field training and have at least four years of verified full-time experience as a peace officer in any state advance to the Trooper II salary. With less than four years they advance to Trooper I until they reach four years combined.

Not published

How many troopers are at each step, and what each trooper was actually paid. Texas has no official per-employee pay file that a script can read.

Common questions

How much does a Texas state trooper make?: On the Texas Department of Public Safety pay schedule in effect September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2027, base salary runs from $51,255 in recruit school to $98,085 at Trooper VI, 20 years of service.
What is the starting salary for a Texas state trooper?: $51,255 a year in recruit school. Base salary for a Trooper I, after 12 month probation period: $65,851.
Do Texas state troopers get paid overtime?: The schedule prints a second figure with overtime. The page says the Legislature authorized an expanded enforcement program that includes a 50 hour work week. With it, the schedule prints $90,545.04 a year for a Trooper I and $134,866.92 for a Trooper VI.

Police pay in other states · Florida state trooper salary · Indiana state trooper salary · Maryland state trooper salary · Massachusetts state trooper salary · North Carolina state trooper salary · Ohio state trooper salary · Pennsylvania state trooper salary · California Highway Patrol · New Jersey State Police salary

Source: Texas Department of Public Safety, trooper salary schedule for fiscal year 2026. Checked against Texas State Auditor's Office, Salary Schedule C. Read Nov 15, 2026.