Police Officer Jobs in Arlington, TX
Arlington Police Department recruits are paid $83,665 a year while they go through a 32-week academy, and officers pass $100,000 by their fourth year on the city's step plan. Here are the current openings, followed by the departments hiring around Arlington, what they pay and how the hiring process works.
Current police officer Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Police Officer Work in Arlington
Policing Arlington means covering a city of about 400,000 people that also hosts some of the biggest crowds in Texas. Officers work neighborhood patrol from Viridian in the far north to the growing subdivisions south of I-20, and they handle game-day traffic and crowds in the Entertainment District around AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field and Six Flags Over Texas. The University of Texas at Arlington runs its own police department for the campus in the College Park District downtown.
Because Arlington sits between Dallas and Fort Worth, officers can choose among several agencies within a short drive. Grand Prairie borders the city to the east, Mansfield to the south, and the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office covers the county jail and unincorporated areas.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Police Officers
These Arlington-area departments are recruiting officers and deputies:
- Arlington Police Department - the city department hires basic recruits and licensed lateral officers, with recruits paid $83,665 during the academy.
- UT Arlington Police Department - the university department pays officers and cadets from $80,000 during the academy and field training up to $101,000 for a Master TCOLE officer.
- Tarrant County Sheriff's Office - the county agency is accepting applications for licensed deputy sheriffs and for detention officers starting at $26 or more an hour.
- Grand Prairie Police Department - Arlington's eastern neighbor starts officers at $90,000 on its current pay plan and posts new test dates as they open.
- Six Flags Over Texas - the theme park hires current Texas officers part-time for off-duty work at Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor through its officer coordinator.
Police Officer Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $80,000 to $90,000 a year for recruits in the academy and first-year officers.
- Experienced: roughly $92,000 to $107,000 a year for officers in years two through five.
- Senior: about $109,000 to $139,000 a year for long-serving officers, sergeants and lieutenants.
These are estimates built from the departments' own pay pages. Arlington's plan runs from $83,665 in the academy to $106,764 at five years and $112,174 at 20 years, with sergeants starting at $118,419 and lieutenants at $138,670. Arlington adds monthly pay for education and bilingual skills, 5% for field training officers and a 6% shift differential. County deputy pay starts lower, at a posted base of about $65,000 for licensed deputies.
How to Become a Police Officer in Arlington
Every Texas peace officer is licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) after completing a basic academy and passing the state licensing exam. Arlington sets a higher bar than the state minimum: you must be a US citizen, at least 21, and hold a bachelor's degree, or have four years of honorable active military service, or have 60 college hours plus either two years as a City of Arlington employee or completion of the department's Hometown Recruiting Program. The hiring process runs through a physical agility test, EyeDetect, psychological and medical exams, a background investigation and a command-staff interview, and recruits then attend the department's own 32-week academy. Independent cadets can also train at the Tarrant County College Law Enforcement Academy at the Northwest Campus in Fort Worth, a 22-week daytime program, and UT Arlington's criminology and criminal justice degree meets Arlington's bachelor's route.
What the Job Involves
Patrol officers answer 911 and non-emergency calls, enforce traffic laws, investigate crimes and crashes, make arrests, write detailed reports and testify in court. They also direct traffic around large venues and work community events. Shifts cover nights, weekends and holidays, and new officers spend their first months with a field training officer.
Skills Employers Look For
- Sound judgement under pressure
- Clear report writing and communication
- Physical fitness to pass agility testing
- De-escalation and conflict resolution
- A clean background and driving record
- Bilingual ability, which adds to Arlington pay
- Community service mindset
Career Path and Advancement
In Arlington, new officers finish the academy, complete patrol training and probation, then build seniority on the step plan. From patrol the path leads to field training officer, detective and specialized units, and then to sergeant and lieutenant through promotion. Licensed officers can also move between North Texas agencies through lateral programs, and Arlington's own lateral academy runs 10 weeks for in-state officers.
Related Careers in Arlington
If police work interests you, these related Arlington roles are close matches:
- Security Officer Jobs
- Loss Prevention Specialist Jobs
- Correctional Officer Jobs
- EMT and Paramedic Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements to join the Arlington Police Department?
You must be a US citizen and at least 21. You also need a bachelor's degree, four years of honorable active military service, or 60 college hours plus either two years as a City of Arlington employee or the department's Hometown Recruiting Program. Applicants cannot have a DWI in the past 10 years and cannot have neck, face or hand tattoos.
How much do police officers make in Arlington?
Arlington pays recruits $83,665 a year in the academy, $87,863 after one year and $106,764 after five years. Sergeants start at $118,419, and education, bilingual, field training and shift pay add to base salary.
How long is the Arlington police academy?
The basic academy is 32 weeks, followed by the TCOLE licensing exam, patrol training and probation. Licensed officers from other Texas agencies go through a 10-week lateral academy, or 14 weeks if they come from out of state, then seven weeks of field training.
Can I become a police officer near Arlington without a degree?
Yes, but the route depends on the department. Arlington accepts military service or 60 college hours with its city-employee or Hometown Recruiting options, and Grand Prairie accepts 48 college hours or two years of active military service. The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office also hires detention officers, which many people use as a first step into law enforcement.
Can police officers work off-duty jobs in Arlington?
Yes. Six Flags Over Texas posts part-time off-duty roles for current Texas officers who are 21 or older and referred by its officer coordinator. Each department sets its own rules for approved off-duty work.
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