JOIN OUR TEAM
Your Career Starts Here
Our Beliefs
Honor.
Excellence.
Accountability.
Respect.
Teamwork.
The vision of the Charleston Police Department is to be a world class law enforcement agency committed to the values of Honor, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork. We demonstrate creativity, challenge our capabilities, and encourage initiative and risk-taking. We hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence and continually improve by solving problems and making decisions that benefit the organization and community. We are dedicated to service, lifelong learning, and professional growth.
Salary and Benefits
The Charleston Police Department’s pay plan includes a comprehensive scale based on career development and degree incentives.
Starting Salaries
When you join CPD, you will be mentored to further your education and advance your professional development. Individuals who accept employment with Charleston Police Department will take part in the agency’s 12-week Police Corps program.
Police Corps is hosted at the department’s training facility (Monday-Friday) and prepares police officer cadets to be leaders within the organization and to successfully complete the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA). Once The Police Corps program is completed, individuals are sworn-in as law enforcement professionals and then attend South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy’s 8-week program. During this time at SCCJA, officers reside on campus (Monday-Friday) until graduation.
Your Career Starts HERE!
Employee Benefits
The City of Charleston offers a competitive total compensation package, including benefits:
10 paid holidays and 2 personal holidays, annual leave starting at 96 hours per year and growing to 192 hours per year, paid sick leave at 96 hours per year.
Paid CPD Police Corps training (12-weeks) and South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (8-weeks) training.
Group health, dental, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, Employer paid life insurance, short term disability and long term disability programs.
Police Officers Retirement System (PORS), optional deferred compensation plans (401k and 457 plans).
GI Bill eligible veteran on-the-job training, tuition reimbursement, and wellness programs.
Lateral and Military
The Charleston Police Department is currently accepting applications for lateral hires, both in-state and out-of-state, who are interested in transitioning to our organization.
A lateral hire is defined as someone who has at least one year of sworn law enforcement experience following basic training and holds a valid state law enforcement certification.
If offered employment, the lateral officer would take part in an expedited process to acquire his/her South Carolina law enforcement certification and at least a 5-week training period with a Patrol Training Officer (PTO).
If you are currently a certified police officer or have military experience, we encourage you to JOIN OUR TEAM!
Probationary Police Officer
If you are new to law enforcement with no prior military or police experience, you will begin your career as a Probationary Police Officer (PPO) with a salary based on your education. PPOs will automatically convert to the rank of Police Officer after two (2) years. Each pay step is an automatic annual increase.
| PPO Pay Scale | STEP 1 | STEP 2 |
|---|---|---|
| High School / GED | $56,430.40 | $57,865.60 |
| Associates Degree | $60,403.20 | $61,921.60 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | $64,604.80 | $66,248.00 |
| Master’s Degree | $69,138.20 | $70,886.40 |
| PhD / JD | $73,985.60 | $75,836.80 |
Police Officer
Officers who have completed their Probationary Police Officer steps, and those who have prior law enforcement or military experience (laterals), can expect to make the salaries below based on education. Lateral hires may start at a higher step depending on experience. Each pay step is an automatic annual increase in your salary until you max out at the rank of Police Officer (PO) Step 3.
| PO Pay Scale | STEP 1 | STEP 2 | STEP 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High School / GED | $59,321.60 | $60,819.20 | $62,358.40 |
| Associates Degree | $63,481.60 | $65,083.20 | $66,726.40 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | $67,912.00 | $69,659.20 | $71,406.40 |
| Master’s Degree | $72,675.20 | $74,505.60 | $76,398.40 |
| PhD / JD | $77,771.20 | $79,726.40 | $81,744.00 |
Senior Police Officer
The Senior Police Officer (SPO) Career Progression Process is comprised of a written examination. This process is coordinated by the Departments of Human Resources and Police. In order to progress to the rank of Senior Police Officer (SPO), officers must possess a minimum of four (4) “qualified” years of service as a full-time paid police officer. “Qualified” is defined as the following:
1.) Any years served at the Charleston Police Department currently, or previously, or officers who have
served at other police departments will be granted up to fifty percent (50%) of their years in service,
not to exceed three (3) years.
2.) Served in the Police Officer’s pay grade for a minimum of one (1) year, and no longer be on probation. Service must be immediately preceding and fulfilled by the last day of the 3rd month after the process is originally scheduled to be completed.
Advancement between each step beyond Step 2 requires two (2) years at each SPO step, and eighty (80) hours of approved Career Enhancement Process (CEP*) training.
| SPO Pay Scale | STEP 1 | STEP 2 | STEP 3 | STEP 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High School / GED | $62,358.40 | $65,478.40 | $68,744.00 | $72,196.80 |
| Associates Degree | $66,726.40 | $70,054.40 | $73,569.60 | $77,251.20 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | $71,406.40 | $74,963.20 | $78,707.20 | $82,659.20 |
| Master’s Degree | $76,398.40 | $80,204.80 | $84,219.20 | $88,441.60 |
| PhD / JD | $81,744.00 | $85,820.80 | $90,126.40 | $94,640.00 |
| (PO Step 3 Skip) | CEP* | CEP* |
Master Police Officer
The Master Police Officer (MPO) Career Progression Process is comprised of two (2) phases, a written examination and an oral interview, which is coordinated by the Departments of Human Resources and Police. A candidate must possess eight (8) years of service as a full-time paid police officer with the City of Charleston Police Department, must possess at a minimum a four-year degree from an accredited college or university, have two (2) years of service in the Senior Police Officer’s pay grade, and no longer be on probation. The two (2) years of service in the Senior Police Officer pay grade and probation completion must be immediately preceding and fulfilled by the last day of the 3rd month after the process is originally scheduled to be completed.
| MPO Pay Scale | STEP 1 | STEP 2 | STEP 3 | STEP 4 | STEP 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $78,707.20 | $82,659.20 | $86,798.40 | $91,124.80 | $95,680.00 |
| Master’s Degree | $84,219.20 | $88,441.60 | $92,851.20 | $97,510.40 | $102,377.60 |
| PhD / JD | $90,126.40 | $94,640.00 | $99,361.60 | $104,332.80 | $109,532.80 |
| CEP* | CEP* | CEP* |
Why We Do the Job
I think at the core of almost everyone is some desire to make the world a better place . . . leave it better than you found it, or to better their community and the world around them . . .
Senior Police Officer Nicole Moyes
My father was a police officer and seeing him put on the uniform everyday, I looked up to him.
OFFICER ANDREW HOWELL
The organic nature of empathy is woven into everything that we do.
Sergeant Joseph Harvill
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Complete an online application HERE.
The Charleston Police Department is currently hiring! To review the requirements and to complete a job application click here.
to protect
and
to serve
Choose Your Path
One Department. Many Jobs.
- Patrol Units (Teams 1-5)
- Team Investigators
- Central Investigations Division (Team 8)
- S.W.A.T. Team
- Field and Crime Intelligence Units
- Civil Disturbance Team (CDU)
- Explosive Devices Unit (EDU)
- K-9 Team
- Central Business District (Team 9)
- School Team (SRO/SSRT) (Team 6)
- Crisis Negotiation Unit
- Traffic Safety Team (Motor Unit) (Team 7)
- Underwater Response and Swiftwater Team
- Harbor Patrol Unit
- Mounted Patrol
- Honor Guard
Investing in You
Our recruitment strategy is focused on developing a qualified workforce that can serve our diverse community. By combining innovative and traditional recruitment methods, we aim to inform citizens about rewarding career opportunities within the police department while highlighting the vital role of diverse and qualified employees enrich our workplace.
Want to learn more? Let’s talk!
Senior Police Officer Malinda Fife
Meet some of the officers that make up our auxiliary recruitment team (L-R):
Detective Amanda Crisfulla (Curry College athlete)
Officer Jimmy Chambers (Alpha Phi Alpha, ECSU)
Detective Dominic Butillo (U.S. Army veteran)
Detective Corey McKinney (App State)
Officer Alexis Bosier (Claflin University)
Officer Samuel Wendt (The Citadel Military College)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum or maximum age requirement?
- You must be at least 21 years of age before attending the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. There is not a maximum age requirement for employment. All phases of the hiring process will be applicable to all applicants regardless of age or gender.
The City of Charleston is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC) as a fundamental policy to be implemented and observed in our daily operation.
How long does training take?
- New officers without prior law enforcement experience will attend The Police Corps program (12-weeks) where you will learn police fundamentals and prepare yourself for testing at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia, SC where you will stay Monday-Friday for 8-weeks until graduation.
After returning from the academy as a South Carolina state certified police officer, you will embark on a 14-week P.T.O. (police training officer) led program where you will be paired up with experienced field training officers who will instruct, evaluate, and mentor you through the program. At the conclusion of field training, officers will be released for independent duty.
Lateral officers will go through an abbreviated hiring process. The SCCJA policy states that out-of-state officers must be currently certifiable in the state of South Carolina or not have a break in service of more than three years. In all cases, each candidate’s records must be presented to SCCJA for review. If the candidate is eligible for Special Basic Class 1, the candidate will be required to complete Special Basic Online Videos at the agency and then respond to the SCCJA for (1) day to complete and pass the Cumulative exam, Firearms Proficiency test, and the Driving Proficiency test.
Does CPD have an Internship Program?
- The Charleston Police Department offers two distinct internship programs: the College Internship and the SkillBridge Internship through the Department of Defense.
- College Internship: This program is tailored for college juniors and seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement with the Charleston Police Department after graduation.
- SkillBridge Internship: Designed for military service members and their spouses, this internship provides an opportunity to transition into a law enforcement career with our department upon their separation from military service.
- Individuals interested in either internship program are encouraged to reach out via joincpd@charleston-sc.gov for more information or to request an internship packet specific to either the College or SkillBridge program.
Can I apply if I have a criminal record?
- All qualified applicants must possess a clean criminal history.
See a list of Immediate Disqualifiers
What is the tattoo policy?
- Employees may have visible tattoos while at work. Tattoos, body art, or brands, anywhere on the body, that are commonly associated with gangs, supremacist or extremist groups, or that are sexist, racist, or advocate religious discrimination, or drug use are prohibited. Tattoos are explicitly prohibited from being visible above the collarbone on the neck, face, or head and visible with an open collar shirt.
A tattoo, brand, or body art that is deemed indecent will be covered while the employee is at work. The Department reserves the right to require employees to conceal their tattoos, body art or, brands if deemed necessary to conform to evolving community standards, attitudes, or beliefs.
The City of Charleston is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC) as a fundamental policy to be implemented and observed in our daily operation.
How long does the hiring process take?
- The Charleston Police Officer Hiring Process consists of FOUR separate phases (Application and Document Review, Testing, Background Investigation, Conditional Offer, Medical and Psychological Exams). You must pass each phase in order to advance to the next. The final decision concerning your employment will be made by the Chief of Police and will be based on information collected throughout the hiring process. The length of the process is dependent on the responsiveness of the applicants and the responsiveness of any and all references, if applicable.
What is the work schedule for police officers?
- Uniform patrol officers are assigned to permanent 10-hour shifts (days, evenings, nights) and partake in an annual shift bid. Schedules are always subject to change based on the needs of the department for special events, training, and court appearances.
- Individuals interested in learning more about shift schedules, overtime/off-duty/court pay, are encouraged to reach out via joincpd@charleston-sc.gov for more information.
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Honor. Excellence. Accountability. Respect. Teamwork.
