Park Police Officer Trainee

Pay Range

New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation has provided the following pay range. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay: $61,587.00/yr - $93,129.00/yr

The New York State Park Police are highly trained and dedicated to helping people and protecting the state’s natural and historic treasures. If you’re interested in a rewarding career in law enforcement, consider becoming a New York State Park Police Officer. Our team works in some of the most beautiful places in the state.

Recruitment for the 2026 Park Police Academy begins now! Applications for the Park Police Officer Trainee position are accepted through February 18, 2026. To be considered, submit the following documents to PPOCareers.gov:

• NYS Parks Police Employment Application Part 1
• A copy of your DD-214 (if applicable)
• Official college transcripts sent electronically to PPOtranscripts.gov directly from your college or from a credential request service like Parchment.

After applying, if you meet the requirements and provide all documentation, you will be contacted for an agility testing in April/May 2026. Following a successful agility test, candidates will advance to psychological and physical/medical testing.

As a Park Police Officer Trainee, you may handle large crowds; assist park users; search for and rescue missing persons; make arrests; conduct criminal and non‑criminal investigations; and provide emergency services wherever needed. Additional services include marine law enforcement and education duties on New York waterways, snowmobile enforcement and education, and high angle and swift water rescue teams.

• First 6 months of traineeship: $61,587 (residential academy)
• Second 6 months of traineeship: $63,192 - $82,525 (rate based on county assigned after 6‑month residential academy)
• After traineeship (1 year): $73,796 - $93,129

See a full Salary Chart: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).-applicants

Officers in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester counties receive an additional $1,762 annual downstate adjustment. Additional supplemental local pay:
Orange, Putnam, Dutchess: $1,467; NYC boroughs, Rockland, Westchester: $2,204;
Nassau and Suffolk: $2,571. Officers in the Mid‑Hudson or Downstate region are eligible for an additional $15,000 geographic pay differential.

• Accrue 13-24 vacation days, 12 holidays, 5 personal days, and 13 sick days each year.
• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Salary does not include overtime.
• Retirement at half pay after 20 years.
• Promotional opportunities via competitive examination processes.
• All uniforms and equipment provided.

Learn more about salary and benefits: -applicants

• Must be at least 20 years of age at time of hire.
• Must not have passed their 43rd birthday by October 1, 2026. Time spent on military duty or terminal leave, not exceeding six years, shall be subtracted from your age if you have passed your 43rd birthday.

• Minimum 60 college semester credit hours; or
• Two years of active U.S. military service with honorable discharge or allowed by New York State Restoration of Honor Act;*, or
• Four years of U.S. military reserve or state National Guard service;*, or
• Two years full‑time experience as a police officer in New York State with valid New York State Municipal Police Training Course certification;*, or
• Two years full‑time experience as a peace officer in New York State with valid New York State Municipal Police Training Course certification;*, or
• 30 college semester credit hours can substitute for one year of the required experience.
• You must have a high school diploma, equivalency, or USDA GED high school level diploma.

• United States citizen and New York State resident at time of appointment; maintain residency after appointment.
• Valid New York State Driver license at time of appointment; maintain it after appointment as a term and condition of…