Medium

The North Dakota Highway Patrol offers a competitive salary and excellent benefit package.

Salary

Effective July 1, 2023, new officers will receive a base salary of $70,512 - $81,528 annually, depending on experience.  Troopers receive up to seven annual raises based upon merit, and the current salary for a senior trooper is $88,140 per year.

In addition, troopers receive an unvouchered expense allowance of $200 per month after completing training.

On-call pay compensated at 20% of hourly rate.

Equipment

All uniforms and equipment required for the job are furnished by the North Dakota Highway Patrol. Troopers are assigned a vehicle to take home.

Retirement

Normal retirement age is 55 with 10 years of service, or the Rule of 80 (age + years of service), whichever happens first. 

To reach the Rule of 80, you may count years of service while participating in the Highway Patrol Retirement System, Teachers Fund for Retirement, and the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS).

Highway Patrol troopers pay into Medicare but not into Social Security.

Troopers retiring with 25 years of service will receive approximately 90% of their final average salary based on a 3.6% multiplier for the first 25 years of service. For example, based on the current top trooper pay of $88,140; the retired annual salary could be $79,300 based on pre-selected options. Click the title to learn more about the NDHP Sworn Officer Retirement plan.

Annual Leave

Years of Service

Hours/Month

Days/Year

0-3

8

12

4-7

10

15

8-12

12

18

13-18

14

21

19 Plus

16

24

240 hours of annual leave may be carried over each year. Annual leave balance is paid upon termination.

Sick Leave

Sick leave accrues at 8 hours per month. It may be used for illnesses where the employee is unable to work and for medical and dental appointments.

Employees may use up to 80 hours per year to tend to the needs of their child, spouse, or parent who are ill, or to assist them in obtaining medical services or other services related to their health or well-being.

Employees with 10 continuous years of service are eligible to be paid for 10% of their sick leave hours upon termination of employment.

Employees may be eligible to give or receive donations of annual or sick leave in case of severe illness, injury, or other circumstances.

Holidays

Employees receive 10 paid holidays.

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • President's Day
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Veteran's Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

Employees assigned a regular day off on the above holidays are generally provided an alternate day off.

At the discretion of the division commander, employees assigned to work a regular shift on holidays may receive overtime at the rate of 1.5 times hourly salary or comp time at the rate of 1.5 hours for each hour worked.

Health Insurance

The department pays the premium for family health insurance coverage.

Life Insurance

The department pays the premium for a $200,000 life insurance, accidental death, and dismemberment policy for sworn officers.

The department pays the premium for $12,000 supplemental life insurance, accidental death, and dismemberment policy. Additional coverage may be purchased on the employee and their dependents.

Employee Assistance Program

Employees and their families may receive confidential assistance dealing with personal problems through a designated provider.

Workers' Compensation

Employees are protected by workers' compensation against loss of income because of accidental injury and/or death in the performance of their duties.

Liability Protection

Liability protection is provided on all department vehicles and aircraft.  Employees are defended by the state of North Dakota in any claim, demand, or action if the employee was acting within their scope of employment.