CopJobs report · Q4 2026 · as of Oct 20, 2026
Texas police hiring, Q4 2026
194 sworn jobs were open at 126 Texas departments on Oct 20, 2026. See them all.
Open sworn jobs
194
as of Oct 20, 2026Departments hiring
126
as of Oct 20, 2026Median starting pay
$73,000
departments' own postingsJobs offering a hiring bonus
5 (3%)
as of Oct 20, 2026Lateral (certified officer) jobs
49 (25%)
of open sworn jobsStarting pay changes
3
since Jul 22, 2026Largest hiring bonuses in Texas
- Victoria Police DepartmentNew and lateral officers · “Up to a $10k sign-on bonus, amount of bonus is determined by years of experience.” postingup to $10,000
- Lockhart Police DepartmentFor certified laterals · “$10,000 Hiring Incentive for TCOLE Certified Officers” posting$10,000
- San Marcos Police DepartmentFor certified laterals · “A $ 5,000 hiring bonus is available” posting$5,000
- Sachse Police DepartmentFor certified laterals · “$3,000 Hiring Incentive for TCOLE Certified Officers” posting$3,000
- Colleyville Police DepartmentFor new officers · “$2,500 sign-on bonus for non-certified” posting$2,500
Starting pay changes this quarter
| Department | Was | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Amarillo Police Department TX | $72,848 | $75,762 source |
| Pilot Point Police Department TX | $72,072 | $73,514 source |
| Hays County Sheriff's Office TX | $72,236 | $74,888 source |
How these numbers are made
- Jobs. Open sworn police, deputy and trooper postings on Oct 20, 2026, read every week from departments' own hiring systems and state peace-officer boards. Civilian, dispatch and corrections-officer jobs are not counted; sheriff's jail deputy jobs are.
- Starting pay. The median of each department's starting figure for a new full-time officer, as its own posting states it. A state's median needs at least 5 departments.
- Hiring bonuses. Bonuses a current posting offers, in the posting's own words, until the end date it gives. Referral and retention pay are not counted.
- Lateral jobs. Postings only for officers already certified elsewhere.
- Pay changes. Starting-pay moves seen in the department's own postings over the last 90 days, with the posting linked.
Published by CopJobs. Every figure is as of Oct 20, 2026; the report is refreshed each week and published quarterly.