Updated 2026-10-02
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 88 openings between them, and median starting pay among them is $55,045, against $54,671 for all North Carolina departments with published pay. Each row quotes the posting.
Departments
51
of 51 stating a requirementMedian starting pay
$55,045
North Carolina overall $54,671Open jobs
88
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” | $60,400 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 8. 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.” | $60,000 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 9. Hickory PD “Must possess a high school diploma or GED” | $58,716 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 10. 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 | ||
| 11. Clayton PD “High School Diploma. Successful completion of/or enrollment in a NC Basic Law Enforcement training program.” | $58,401 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 12. Cabarrus County Sheriff “Requires graduation from high school or a GED.” | $58,225 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 13. Morrisville PD “High School Diploma or GED” | $58,115 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 14. Graham PD “High School Diploma or GED equivalent” | $57,875 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 15. 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 | ||
| 16. Chapel Hill PD “A high school diploma or its equivalent” | $57,164 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 17. 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 | ||
| 18. Chatham County Sheriff “High school diploma or GED or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $56,593 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 19. 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 | ||
| 20. Pinehurst PD “Graduation from high school and completion of basic law enforcement training; experience preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $56,480 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 21. Kernersville PD “Completion of high school and some law enforcement training or experience preferred.” | $56,264 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 22. 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 | ||
| 23. Harnett County Sheriff “High school diploma and completion of basic law enforcement training” | $55,688 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 24. Halifax County Sheriff “Graduation from high school / GED.” | $55,302 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 25. Statesville PD “High School Diploma or GED.” | $55,120 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 26. Wilson PD “Be a high school graduate or have passed the General Educational Development Test indicating high school equivalency;” | $54,970 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 27. 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 | ||
| 28. Cumberland County Sheriff “have a high school diploma or GED” | $54,765 | Hiring · 4 | ||
| 29. Pender County Sheriff “High school diploma or GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $54,577 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 30. Alamance County Sheriff “High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).” | $54,515 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 31. Hendersonville PD “High school diploma: prior experience in law enforcement is desired; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $53,936 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 32. Durham PD “Completion of high school or equivalency (some college preferred)” | $53,167 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 33. Albemarle PD “Graduation from high school or equivalent.” | $52,569 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 34. Craven County Sheriff “Graduation from high school and possession of a Basic Law Enforcement Training Certificate.” | $51,677 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 35. 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 | ||
| 36. Gastonia PD “High School Diploma or GED equivalency required” | $51,300 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 37. Winston-Salem PD “Graduation from high school or GED equivalency.” | $51,269 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 38. 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 | ||
| 39. Elizabeth City PD “Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.” | $50,000 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 40. Huntersville PD “High school diploma or GED.” | $49,986 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 41. Washington PD “High school diploma or general education degree (GED).” | $49,153 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 42. Clinton PD “Graduation from high school and some law enforcement training or experience.” | $48,527 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 43. Greenville PD “High school diploma or GED; and” | $48,506 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 44. Havelock PD “Graduation from high school; an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice is preferred” | $48,483 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 45. Buncombe County Sheriff “High School diploma or equivalent” | $45,469 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 46. 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 · 2 | ||
| 47. Warren County Sheriff “Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school.” | $44,500 | Hiring · 1 | ||
| 48. Shelby PD “High school diploma or GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience.” | $44,179 | Hiring · 3 | ||
| 49. New Hanover County Sheriff “High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED).” | $44,152 | Hiring · 2 | ||
| 50. 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 | ||
| 51. Wilmington PD “High School - transcript only” | Not published | Hiring · 2 |
Related
Highest paying departments in North CarolinaPolice jobs in North Carolina (121)Lateral police jobs in North CarolinaNo degree required, all states
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