Police Officer - Entry Level

Salary : $39.11 - $51.42 Hourly

Location : 333 Division Street NE Salem, OR

Job Type : Fulltime-Career

Job Number : 25-0411-13

Department : Police Department

Opening Date : 12 / 08 / 2025

Closing Date : 2 / 1 / 2026 11 : 59 PM Pacific

Job Summary

Salem Police Department Core Values :

Collaboration | Honor | Integrity | Compassion

Salary Step

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Longevity Rate

Hourly Rate

$39.11

$41.07

$43.12

$45.28

$47.54

$49.92

$51.42

Monthly Rate

$6,779.07

$7,118.80

$7,474.13

$7,848.53

$8,240.27

$8,652.80

$8,912.80

Certifications, Training, & College Incentives

2% - 10%

Extra Duty / Specialized Assignment Incentive

2.5% - 5%

Bi-Lingual Incentive

5%

Full List of Incentives

Other Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family, Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%. Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies. Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account. Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts. Voluntary long-term care. Employee wellness program. Employee assistance program. Employee health clinic. Free, secure parking. Department gym available for employee use.

The City offers an excellent compensation and benefits package which can be found by

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Be at least 21 years old at date of hire.
• Be a U.S. Citizen or have the ability to become one within 18 months of hire.
• Participate in competitive testing including physical fitness testing, reading comprehension, writing skills, written, physical / vision, hearing and psychological examinations, and be able to pass strict Police Department background investigation.
• Must pass the pre-employment drug test (including marijuana).
• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• Oregon's minimum standards to work as a law enforcement officer and background disqualifiers can be found in OAR 259-008.
• Must be able to work periodic overtime and a variety of 24-hour rotating shifts including holidays and weekends.
• High School graduate or have completed a G.E.D.

Certifications / Licenses :

What are the disqualifiers and eliminating factors?

For more information, please click here

Hiring Process :

Applicants must submit a completed application and attach valid tests results for NTN Frontline National Test (NTN) and Oregon Physical Agility Test (ORPAT) or out-of-state PAT equivalent at the time of application to be considered in the hiring process.

For more information about the hiring process please click here

NTN & ORPAT / PAT Requirements :

Applicants must complete the ORPAT in 6 : 30 or less to pass. However, the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) requires a time of 5 : 30 or less for graduation.

Click here for practice tests. For exam scheduling assistance, visit NTN's job listing

Click here for ORPAT preparation tips. For test scheduling, visit ORPAT scheduling

Out-of-State Applicants : If you have a valid PAT test from another state or the military, you may submit your score with your application, provided it is less than 12 months old from the job announcement closing date.

Hired applicants are eligible for a $100 reimbursement for NTN and ORPAT testing costs.

About us :

The Salem Police Department is the 4th largest agency in the State of Oregon. We are a full-service department to include many special teams. Our new facility is a 104,000 square foot building with many amenities for employees to include an indoor / outdoor breakroom, and a work-out room / locker room.

The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon. Located in the lush Willamette Valley, Salem is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 180,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.

A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments :

Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members. The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Community Planning and Development department.

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Police Officer or view by

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For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at .

How can I apply?

The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

To apply, click on the green "Apply" button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

EEO / Women, veterans and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Contact Information :

Sgt. Robert Dowd

503-932-4517

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN IMPLIED CONTRACT AND MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE

For benefits information, go to :

01

I understand that the questions asked are part of the screening process for a position with Salem Police. I understand that these questions are the first step in the background process and that the information I provide will be verified through a variety of sources. I understand that the pre-employment screening will be conducted as part of the selection process. If it is discovered that I have made false, misleading, or inaccurate statements, I will be disqualified from the selection process. I understand that if I am hired before the inaccuracy has been discovered, it may lead to dismissal. I understand that negative information provided may or may not be grounds for disqualification and that dishonesty is always grounds for disqualification. To be considered in this application process, you must agree to the following statement : I hereby swear or affirm I will answer the supplemental questions truthfully and accurately, and there are no willful misrepresentations, omissions, or falsifications.

02

Have you ever been convicted of a felony as an adult? Mark "no" if the record has been expunged.

03

Have you ever been convicted of a crime of domestic violence? Mark "no" if the records has been expunged.

04

Have you been convicted of a sex-related crime or ever been required to register as a Sex Offender?

05

Have you been convicted of a major traffic offense or accident (fault was established as yours) that resulted in death or major injury? Examples of major traffic offenses : Reckless Driving, Attempting to Elude, Hit and Run (failure to perform the duties of a driver), or felony driving while suspended or revoked? Select "no" if the record has been expunged.

06

In the last three (3) years, have you been convicted of three (3) or more traffic (moving) violations? Examples of moving violation : speeding, running a stop sign or red light, Reckless driving, drunk driving (DUI / DWI), racing, and traffic light camera.

07

Have you been convicted of a driving under the influence (DUI) offense within the last 5 years?

08

Are you lawfully allowed to possess a firearm?

09

In the last 12 months, have you used any substance containing cannabis, marijuana, or THC? This does not include retail purchase of non-THC products, such as Cannabidiol (CBD).

10

Other than when it has been personally prescribed by a doctor, have you used any prescription medications (such as benzodiazepines, amphetamines, or opioids) or other substances (such as heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine) in the last five (5) years?

11

All Entry Level Police Officer applicants must successfully complete the Law Enforcement Frontline Exam conducted by the National Testing Network to be considered further for the position. Applicants must have in the last 12 months completed the NTN Law Enforcement Frontline Exam with a read and writing score of 70% or higher, and video score of 65% or higher, and within the last 12 months completed an Oregon Physical Agility Test (ORPAT), Military Physical Agility Test (PAT), or other equivalent Physical Agility Test (PAT) time of 6 : 30 minutes or less. Please select an option that applies to you. Please ATTACH a screenshot of NTN & ORPAT SCORES to be considered in the hiring process.

12

Did you attach or include a screenshot of your NTN and ORPAT scores to your application? (please note, this is required)

13

Are you working with someone from the Police Department recruiting team? If so, please list their name below.

Required Question