Updated 2026-10-09
Police departments in North Carolina that don't require college
51 of the 51 North Carolina departments that state an education requirement ask only for a high school diploma or GED. They have 95 openings between them, and median starting pay among them is $54,862, against $54,814 for all North Carolina departments with published pay. Each row quotes the posting.
Departments
51
of 51 stating a requirementMedian starting pay
$54,862
North Carolina overall $54,814Open jobs
95
across 51 departmentsEvery North Carolina department, by starting pay
Highest first| Department | Area | Starting pay | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Knightdale PD “Graduation from a standard high school and completion of advanced courses and seminars in various phases of police work; preferably completion of a college degree program in police science, criminal justice, law enforcement or related area” | $67,363 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 2. Wake Forest PD “Graduation from high school and completion of basic law enforcement training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $65,535 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 3. Davidson PD “Shall possess the minimum required by the North Carolina Justice Training and Standards Commission to obtain certification as a Police Officer, including a high school diploma or equivalent” | $63,000 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 4. Raleigh PD “High School diploma or GED equivalent” | $62,338 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 5. Fuquay-Varina PD “Graduation from high school and some law enforcement training or experience.” | $62,292 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 6. Union County Sheriff “Requires a high school diploma or an acceptable equivalency diploma (GED).” | $61,069 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 7. Burlington PD “High School Diploma or GED Equivalent” | $59,000 | Hiring · 4 | ||
| 8. Hickory PD “Must possess a high school diploma or GED” | $58,716 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 9. Mebane PD “Graduation from high school or GED equivalency; some experience in law enforcement work is desired as is an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice.” | $58,565 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 10. Clayton PD “High School Diploma. Successful completion of/or enrollment in a NC Basic Law Enforcement training program.” | $58,401 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 11. Cabarrus County Sheriff “Requires graduation from high school or a GED.” | $58,225 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 12. Morrisville PD “High School Diploma or GED” | $58,115 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 13. Pitt County Sheriff “Graduation from high school supplemented by training in basic law enforcement; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.” | $57,310 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 14. Chapel Hill PD “A high school diploma or its equivalent” | $57,164 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 15. Dare County Sheriff “High school diploma or GED and moderate experience in law enforcement, or equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $56,935 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 16. Chatham County Sheriff “High school diploma or GED or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $56,593 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 17. Franklin County Sheriff “High school diploma with some law enforcement training or experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.” | $56,563 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 18. Kernersville PD “Completion of high school and some law enforcement training or experience preferred.” | $56,264 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 19. Topsail Beach PD “High school graduation and completion of basic law enforcement training, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.” | $55,793 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 20. Harnett County Sheriff “High school diploma and completion of basic law enforcement training” | $55,688 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 21. Halifax County Sheriff “Graduation from high school / GED.” | $55,302 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 22. Statesville PD “High School Diploma or GED.” | $55,120 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 23. Wilson PD “Be a high school graduate or have passed the General Educational Development Test indicating high school equivalency;” | $54,970 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 24. Rocky Mount PD “Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of specialized training in the field of work, in addition to basic skills typically associated with a high school education.” | $54,944 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 25. Beaufort PD “Graduation from high school and completion of basic law enforcement training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $54,862 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 26. Cumberland County Sheriff “have a high school diploma or GED” | $54,765 | Hiring · 4 | ||
| 27. Pender County Sheriff “High school diploma or GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $54,577 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 28. Alamance County Sheriff “High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).” | $54,515 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 29. Durham PD “Completion of high school or equivalency (some college preferred)” | $53,167 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 30. Albemarle PD “Graduation from high school or equivalent.” | $52,569 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 31. Craven County Sheriff “Graduation from high school and possession of a Basic Law Enforcement Training Certificate.” | $51,677 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 32. Maiden PD “Graduation from high school and completion of basic law enforcement training and possession of a Basic Law Enforcement Certificate; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $51,635 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 33. Gastonia PD “High School Diploma or GED equivalency required” | $51,300 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 34. Kinston PD “Graduation from high school and completion of basic law enforcement training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $50,981 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 35. Winston-Salem PD “Graduation from high school or GED equivalency.” | $50,264 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 36. Elizabeth City PD “Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.” | $50,000 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 37. Huntersville PD “High school diploma or GED.” | $49,986 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 38. Washington PD “High school diploma or general education degree (GED).” | $49,153 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 39. Pinehurst PD “Graduation from high school and completion of basic law enforcement training; experience preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $48,789 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 40. Clinton PD “Graduation from high school and some law enforcement training or experience.” | $48,527 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 41. Greenville PD “High school diploma or GED; and” | $48,506 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 42. Havelock PD “Graduation from high school; an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice is preferred” | $48,483 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 43. Graham PD “High School Diploma or GED equivalent” | $47,614 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 44. Buncombe County Sheriff “High School diploma or equivalent” | $45,469 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 45. Lexington PD “Education equivalent to graduation from high school and completion of Basic Law Enforcement Training or ability to complete Basic Law Enforcement Training within 6 months of hire;” | $45,365 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 46. Warren County Sheriff “Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school.” | $44,500 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 47. Shelby PD “High school diploma or GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $44,179 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 48. New Hanover County Sheriff “High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED).” | $44,152 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 49. Nash County Sheriff “Graduation from high school and completion of basic law enforcement training; possession of a Basic Law Enforcement Certificate preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $43,738 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 50. Hendersonville PD “High school diploma: prior experience in law enforcement is desired; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | Not published | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 51. Wilmington PD “High School - transcript only” | Not published | Hiring · 2 |
Related
Highest paying departments in North CarolinaPolice jobs in North Carolina (146)Lateral police jobs in North CarolinaNo degree required, all states
Get North Carolina police jobs by email
New openings, closing dates and bonuses, the day they post. Free.
Unsubscribe anytime. We never sell your email.