City / town police · Seattle, Washington

Seattle Police Department

Salary and hiring-process research

Information last reviewed 2026-09-09. This is an existing research date, not a new verification pass.

Published salary research

Academy recruit only
$6,639.84 / month
Sworn step 1 after academy
$117,792 / year
Step 6 (54 months)
$154,248 / year
Lateral placement
Experience-dependent steps

Posted rates; effective date unstated. Academy pay is temporary, not the sworn starting rate or a first-year earnings forecast.

Seattle: officer pay and hiring process ↗

Hiring process

  1. City application
  2. NTN written testing and self-assessment
  3. Entry-level WAPAT
  4. Personal history and background
  5. Medical, psychological and polygraph assessments
  6. Offer

Lateral/exceptional-entry paths differ; the page exempts them from WAPAT. An oral-board stage is not specified on this overview.

Seattle: officer pay and hiring process ↗

Physical testing

Entry WAPAT: 20 push-ups / 90 sec, 25 sit-ups / 90 sec, 35 squat thrusts / 3 min.

Seattle: officer pay and hiring process ↗

Benefits and incentives

LEOFF 2; deferred-compensation match up to 4%; paid leave and health coverage. Confirm your eligibility and contributions.

Seattle: officer pay and hiring process ↗

Incentives: confirm current availability

Relocation reimbursement: up to $5,000 entry / $7,500 lateral for qualifying moves over 50 miles. Current signing-bonus availability needs confirmation; reimbursement is not a signing bonus.

Seattle: officer pay and hiring process ↗

Requirements and lateral entry

This profile does not yet establish a complete current eligibility checklist or lateral-entry policy. Age, education, citizenship or work authorization, license requirements and disqualifiers must be confirmed in the current announcement for the position you seek. Missing research does not mean a requirement is waived.

Recruiting contact

Recruiting team · Officer Autumn Manning

SPD_Recruiting@seattle.gov

425-282-9911

Seattle: recruiter contacts ↗

Preparation focus

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Frequently asked questions

What salary information is available for Seattle Police Department?

Academy recruit only: $6,639.84 / month; Sworn step 1 after academy: $117,792 / year; Step 6 (54 months): $154,248 / year; Lateral placement: Experience-dependent steps. Posted rates; effective date unstated. Academy pay is temporary, not the sworn starting rate or a first-year earnings forecast.

What hiring process does Seattle Police Department describe?

City application. NTN written testing and self-assessment. Entry-level WAPAT. Personal history and background. Medical, psychological and polygraph assessments. Offer. Lateral/exceptional-entry paths differ; the page exempts them from WAPAT. An oral-board stage is not specified on this overview.

What physical testing information is available for Seattle Police Department?

Entry WAPAT: 20 push-ups / 90 sec, 25 sit-ups / 90 sec, 35 squat thrusts / 3 min.

What benefits information is available for Seattle Police Department?

LEOFF 2; deferred-compensation match up to 4%; paid leave and health coverage. Confirm your eligibility and contributions.

Does Seattle Police Department offer hiring incentives?

Relocation reimbursement: up to $5,000 entry / $7,500 lateral for qualifying moves over 50 miles. Current signing-bonus availability needs confirmation; reimbursement is not a signing bonus.

Is Seattle Police Department accepting applications now?

This profile does not establish whether applications are currently open or closed. Research was last reviewed 2026-09-09; confirm current vacancies and deadlines with the employer using the official sources above.