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Cadet, CHP - Salary, Benefits and Retirement

Salary, Overtime, and Incentives

The base salary for a CHP cadet is $3,871 (includes seven hours mandatory overtime) while attending the Academy.  In addition, cadets receive free room and board.  Effective the first month following their Academy reporting date, cadets receive full health and dental benefits for themselves and their dependents. 

The annual base salary for an officer upon graduation is approximately $61,452.  Officers receive a five percent base salary increase each year for five years until they reach top step salary of $74,524.

NOTE: Work in excess of eight and one-half hours per day is compensated at one and one-half times the hourly salary. On the average, CHP officers annually average approximately $10,000 of paid overtime.                                 

All CHP Officers also earn the following pay incentives:

8-1/2 Hour Day Pay

Currently, officers are paid for an additional 6.25% per pay period for an eight and one-half hour workday.

Physical Performance Pay (PPP)                                                                              

  • $65 per month (or $780 per year) for the first five years
  • $130 per month (or $1,560 per year) after five years

Pre- and Post- Shift Pay Differential

Officers receive a stipend equal to 3.5 % of their base pay to compensate for pre- and post- shift activities.

An example of potential top step annual income would be:

Annual Salary $74,524.00
8-1/2 Hour Day Pay (6.25 % of base pay) $4,657.00
PPP Pay ($130.00/mo.) $1,560.00
Pre- and Post- Shift Work Activites Pay (3.5 % of base pay)  $2,608.00
Swing Shift Differential Pay ($0.80 per hour per shift) $1,650.00
Subtotal $84,999.00
Annual Overtime Average $10,000.00
Subtotal $94,999.00
Education Incentive (BA) (5 % of base pay) $3,726.00
Potential Top Step Annual Income $98,725.00

Other pay incentives include:

Bilingual Pay - $100 per month for certified bilingual (Spanish) speaking officers who are assigned to a CHP office with bilingual needs.

Canine Pay - $156.65 per month for officers assigned to perform the duties of a canine handler.

Educational Incentive Pay -

  • 2.5 percent base pay per month, or no less than $120, for officers who possess an Intermediate Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certificate or Associate of Arts Degree

OR

  • 5 percent base pay per month, or no less than $240, for officers who possess an Advanced POST Certificate or a Bachelor of Arts degree or higher.

Field Training Officer Pay - Field Training Officers (FTO) earn five percent of their base pay each day they serve as an FTO. FTOs average approximately $500 per year.

Investigator Pay - $50 per month for officers assigned full time as a Vehicle Theft or Fraud Investigator.

Motorcycle Pay - Four percent of base pay for officers assigned to motorcycle enforcement duty.

Senior Officer Pay - Officers are eligible to receive the additional monthly differential listed below added to their base salary:

  • 18 years as a CHP officer - Two percent
  • 19 years as a CHP officer - Three percent
  • 20 years as a CHP officer - Four percent
  • 21 years as a CHP officer - Five percent
  • 22 years as a CHP officer - Six percent
  • 25 years as a CHP officer - Eight percent

Flight Pay - Officers who serve as pilots (both fixed wing and helicopter) and flight observers earn the annual salary at top step of:

  • Flight Observers - $78,250
  • Pilot - $87,193

Shift Differential - Officers assigned to work swing shift or night shift receive a pay differential as follows:

  • Swing Shift - $0.80 per hour per shift, averaging $1650 annually.
  • Night Shift - $1.30 per hour per shift, averaging $2,650 annually.

Police Protective Equipment - The CHP will furnish all required safety and police protective equipment. A partial list includes:

  • .40 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol and required ammunition
  • Badge and Hat Piece
  • PR-24 (Baton)
  • Oleoresin Capsicum (Pepper Spray)
  • Handcuffs
  • Flashlight
  • Soft body armor (bullet-proof vest)
  • Rainwear (jacket, pants, and boots)
  • Duty Belt, holster, and equipment cases
  • Kevlar general duty helmet

Retirement Benefits - Uniformed members of the CHP can qualify for an annual service retirement allowance up to 90 percent of their highest one-year salary, based upon years of service and age. Health and dental benefits are available.

Benefits

Annual Leave/Vacation/Sick Leave - CHP officers are enrolled in either the Annual Leave Program or the Vacation/Sick Leave Program. Annual Leave credits can be used as vacation time off or as sick leave.

Annual Leave hours accrue as follows:

Length of Service Annual Leave Allowance
1 month - 3 years 24 hours per month
3 - 10 years 27 hours per month
10 - 15 years 29 hours per month
15 - 20 years 30 hours per month
20 years and over 31 hours per month

Vacation/Sick Leave hours accrue as follows:

Length of Service Vacation Leave Sick Leave
7 months - 3 years 20 hours per month 8 hours per month
3 - 10 years 23 hours per month 8 hours per month
10 - 15 years 25 hours per month 8 hours per month
15 - 20 years 26 hours per month 8 hours per month
20+ 27 hours per month 8 hours per month

Additionally, the CHP offers paid Bereavement Leave.

Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits - The CHP contributes to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision health care plans for CHP officers and their dependents. There are numerous health care providers, and you can choose a plan which best meets your family's needs.

Uniform Allowance - Officers receive an annual uniform allowance of $870 and will increase to $920 on July 1, 2008.  In addition, officers receive $ 25/mo. uniform cleaning allowance. Initially, cadets are loaned the money to buy their first set of uniforms, upon graduation from the Academy, cadets will receive reimbursement from the State, not to exceed $570.00, for purchasing the CHP-required uniforms. 

For additional information and applications, contact the CHP at:

1-888-4A CHP JOB
(1-888-422-4756)

TT/TDD
1-800-735-2929

EOE/ADA

or by e-mail