Following record low recruitment numbers in 2023, The Nebraska State Patrol is now hiring for the next class of State Troopers.
The State Patrol Office started accepting applications for Camp 70 Thursday and will be open until April 7th, 2024. Recruits will begin training on July 8th and graduate on December 20th, 2024.
State Patrol Spokesman Cody Thomas says Troopers enjoy a wide variety of career opportunities within the State Patrol, “They see a state patrol cruiser, whether it’s on I-80 or around the state, but that’s really just the beginning of this career.”
Troopers serve in numerous specialty positions including criminal investigator, K9 handler, crash investigator, tactical flight officer, crisis negotiator, drone operator, hazmat technician, and many more. Troopers can also serve in specialty units including the SWAT Team, Carrier Enforcement, Mobile Field Force, Bomb Squad, Executive Protection, Husker Football Detail, and the Aviation Support Unit.
The starting salary for a Nebraska State Trooper is $31.50 per hour ($65,520 annually) upon graduation from the NSP Training Academy. Troopers also have opportunities for additional pay, including overtime hours at a pay rate of 1.5 times their base salary rate, shift differential pay of an additional $.85 per hour if they are regularly assigned to the night shift, and a 2.5 percent pay increase for qualifying as bilingual.
The NSP Training Academy offers an extensive 24-week training program. Recruits are trained though numerous field training scenarios and many hours of classroom instruction. During the training process at the NSP Training Academy, recruits are paid $27.46 per hour.
Thomas added that the State Patrol can be a very fulfilling job for those with a heart of service.
“We like to say we don’t have one community. We have hundreds,” said Thomas. “From the largest metros like the Omaha, to some of the villages or unincorporated communities across Nebraska, where people do live. They need public service, too. Our troopers work day and night, really making a difference across the state of Nebraska.”
Applicants must be a United States citizen and at least 21 years of age by graduation, when they take the oath of office. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED equivalence. Additional information about the hiring process, benefits, opportunities, and recruiter contacts can be found at NebraskaTroopers.com.