State Trooper​/Trooper

Position Overview

Eligibility for appointment as an Alaska State Trooper Recruit or Alaska State Trooper, depending on qualifications. Successful candidates receive high-caliber training at no expense and earn wages and benefits while attending the academy. The recruitment is exempt from the hiring freeze (Administrative Order 358). The application cycle begins in January 2027 and again in July 2027.

Effective July 1 2026, the wage for this position increased by 4%. The posted wage reflects this increase.

Troopers work in a wide variety of law-enforcement fields and, later in their careers, can request assignments that fit personal interests. General areas of enforcement include rural law-enforcement, highway law-enforcement, near-urban patrol work, and serious criminal investigations. The Alaska State Trooper/Alaska Wildlife Trooper position is among the most demanding of any law-enforcement agency.

Upon completion of the academy, Trooper recruits will be stationed at one of the Department’s three training posts:
Fairbanks, Palmer/Wasilla, or Soldotna. The DPS Training Academy is located in Sitka, Alaska.

• Conversant in both spoken and written English.
• Age 21 years or older at the start of the academy.
• High‑school diploma or GED.
• No disqualifications from a recent background investigation within the past 12 months.
• Citizen of the United States of America.
• Valid driver’s license.
• No disqualifications from any portion of a prior formal background investigation within the last twelve months.
• No history of substance‑related offenses as specified in the minimum qualifications.
• No felony convictions.
• No misdemeanors that meet the specified criteria (e.g., serious bodily injury, domestic violence, DUI, or moral turpitude).
• No positive findings related to law-enforcement conduct that would impede certification.

High-caliber training at no expense along with wages and benefits during academy attendance. Additionally, Troopers receive ongoing benefits after graduation as a sworn officer.

Troopers primarily serve as rural police officers. Alaska does not have county or sheriff’s offices, so Troopers provide complete law-enforcement services outside of city limits. Duties may require travel by air, riverboat, snow machine, or four-wheel vehicle. Some Troopers serve in Southeast Alaska, where travel may include air and ferry, and communities range from under a thousand to over 35,000 residents.

The State of Alaska is an equal-opportunity employer and complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aids, or alternative communication formats may contact the Alaska Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at or 465-4095 in Juneau, or (TTY).