In Utah, law enforcement careers are found at the local (municipal), county (sheriff) and state (highway patrol) levels. Each law enforcement agency has its own minimum standards that must be met in order for candidates to be considered for employment. Law enforcement careers in Utah may be the most challenging, rewarding, physically demanding positions that are available in the state. The protection of citizens at the local, county and state levels is the number one priority of law enforcement officers working in Utah.
Police Officer Jobs and Training in Utah
Police officers at the local level are called Peace Officers in Utah. The Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Act sets minimum requirements of all peace officers in Utah. Municipalities may establish standards beyond these, but all potential Utah police officers/peace officers must meet the minimum standards. Police officer jobs in Utah may be most prevalent in the biggest cities, including:
- West Jordan Police Department, West Jordan
- Provo City Police Department, Provo
- West Valley City Police Department, West Valley
- Salt Lake City Police Department, Salt Lake City
Deputy Sheriff Jobs and Training in Utah
Sheriff’s offices in Utah are found within the state’s counties. Deputy sheriff jobs in Utah may be available in:
- Weber County-Ogden
- Wayne County-Loa
- Washington County-Hurricane
- Wasatch County-Heber City
- Utah County-Spanish Fork and Provo
- Uintah County-Vernal
- Tooele County-Tooele
- Summit County – Park City
- Sevier County – Richfield
- Sanpete County – Manti
- San Juan County-Monticello
- Rich County – Randolph
- Piute County – Junction
- Morgan County – Morgan
- Millard County – Fillmore
- Kane County- Kanab
- Juab County – Nephi
- Iron County-Cedar City
- Grand County-Moab
- Garfield County-Panguitch
- Emery County-Castle Dale
- Duchesne County-Duchesne
- Davis County-Farmington
- Daggett County – Manila
- Carbon County – Price
- Cache County – Logan
- Box Elder County – Brigham City
- Beaver County – Beaver
Qualifications for Becoming a Police Officer or Deputy Sheriff in Utah
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have a high school diploma/GED
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Have a clean criminal record
- Complete a law enforcement certification program (under an agency such as Utah Peace Officers Standards and Training Academy and the Utah Law Enforcement Academy at Weber State University )
- Score at least a 70 on the National Peace Officers Selection Test (NPOST) (this test is required for all county/sheriff jobs in Utah)
State Trooper Jobs and Training With the Highway Patrol in Utah
Utah’s Highway Patrol is made up of state troopers who help to keep the state’s major roadways and citizens safe. Specialty units of the Utah Highway Patrol include SWAT, Executive Protection, Capitol Security, and K-9 Troopers. Offices in which state trooper jobs with the highway patrol in Utah may be available include:
- Headquarters/Administrative Office – Salt Lake City
- Wendover – Section 8
- Vernal-Section 5 – Uintah, Daggett & Duchesne Counties
- Sandy – Training Office
- Tooele – Section 8, Tooele County
- George/Hurricane – Section 12 – Washington & Kane Counties
- Murray – Supply Office
- Salt Lake Field Operations– Section 4, Salt Lake County
- Roosevelt – Section 5
- Richfield-Section 10 – Western Wayne, Piute, Sevier & Sanpete Counties
- Price-Section 9 – Green River Area, Eastern Garfield, Wayne, Eastern, Emery & Carbon Counties
- Orem – Section 6, Utah County
- Ogden-Section 2, Morgan & Weber Counties
- Nephi-Section 14
- Motor Carrier-Vehicle Safety Division, Salt Lake City
- Monticello-Section 13
- Moab-Section 13, San Juan & Grand Counties
- Logan-Section 1
- Law Enforcement Data Center- Murray
- Kanab-Section 12
- Heber-Section 7, Rich, Summit & Wasatch Counties
- Green River – Section 9
- Fillmore-Section 14, Millard & Juab Counties
- Farmington-Section 3, Davis County
- DUI Squad,K-9 & SERT (Special Emergency Response Team) – Murray
- Dignitary Protection Uniform Division – Salt Lake City
- Salt Lake Community College-Taylorsville
- Cedar City-Section 11, Garfield, Iron & Beaver Counties
- Brigham City-Section 1, Cache & Box Elder Counties
- Beaver-Section 11
Qualifications for Becoming a State Trooper in Utah
Applications to become a state trooper in Utah are not accepted unless the state has a need. Prospective state troopers may visit the Utah Department of Public Safety to sign up to be notified when applications are being accepted. Minimum qualifications include:
- Possess a high school diploma/GED
- Be at least age 21
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Pass a background/moral character investigation
- Complete the Peace Officer Academy (POST) Entrance Exam
Utah Law Enforcement Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), law enforcement officers in Utah earned an average salary of $60,730 as of May 2021.
The following police/sheriff’s department salary data was sourced from May 2021 BLS stats (early career = 25th percentile, senior/late career = 90th percentile).
Police Officer Salaries
Utah’s municipal officers have been seeing significant pay bumps in recent years as departments have grown concerned about losing experienced members to better-paying agencies. Cities in the state remain among the highest paying LEO positions available.
Ogden Police Department
- Entry – $47,850
- Mid-Level – $50,880
- Senior – $76,010
Provo Police Department
- Entry – $47,390
- Mid-level – $60,040
- Senior – $76,040
Salt Lake City Police Department
- Entry – $51,990
- Mid-level – $63,970
- Senior – $83,080
St. George Department
- Entry – $50,630
- Mid-Level – $61,190
- Senior – $77,350
Sheriff’s Deputy Salaries
Utah counties have a lot of territory to cover, from broad deserts to rugged mountains. That requires deputies who have special expertise, including EMT or paramedic training in some areas. Those additional qualifications can add considerably to take-home pay for deputies who are qualified.
Utah County Sheriff’s Department
- Entry – $47,390
- Mid-Level – $60,040
- Senior – $76,040
Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office
- Entry – $51,990
- Mid-Level – $63,970
- Senior – $83,080
State Trooper and State Police Salaries
As the premier law enforcement agency in the state, the Utah Highway Patrol offers a wealth of training and opportunities for advancement to go along with the competitive salaries paid to troopers.
Utah Highway Patrol
- Entry – $48,290
- Senior – $78,330
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for police and sheriff’s patrol officers. Job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2022.