The Police IndexStop data: 2024 · Pay and hiring checked Nov 2026

How to get hired at San Diego Police

2,031 swornStarts at $99,091Hiring new officers nowApplicant Score 40
Hiring new officers, checked Nov 13, 2026
Open now

Laterals: open now. Posting: Police Officer (Recruit Level). Closes: Continuous.

Time to hire
3 to 4 months
Whole process, per the department
Written test cutoff
70% on the City exam, or PELLETB T-score 42
PELLETB from the last 6 months
Physical test
Pass or fail. No times published.
Lie detection
Polygraph
Academy
6 months
San Diego Regional Academy
Pay in the academy
$76,170 to $79,706
Police Recruit

The 8 steps, in order

  1. 1
    Online applicationApproval takes about 3 weeks.
  2. 2
    Written testThe City's own exam, pass mark 70%. Waived with a PELLETB T-score of 42 from the last 6 months.Prep for this step
  3. 3
    Physical abilities testFive events, pass or fail.Prep for this step
  4. 4
    Pre-investigative questionnaire57 pages, same day as the physical test.
  5. 5
    Background investigation and polygraph
  6. 6
    Appointing authority interview
  7. 7
    Psychological and medical exams
  8. 8
    Academy and field training6 months, then about 4 months.

How long hiring takes

La Mesa Police2 to 8 months
San Diego Police3 to 4 months
Chula Vista Police3 to 5 months
Coronado Police3 to 6 months
Harbor Police6 to 12 months
SheriffNot published
Escondido PoliceNot published
Carlsbad PoliceNot published
Oceanside PoliceNot published
El Cajon PoliceNot published
National City PoliceNot published
0 mo3 mo6 mo9 mo12 mo

Each agency's own stated figure. They do not all measure the same span, so check the note on each bar.

Academy length

Oceanside Police25 wk
Harbor Police25 wk
National City Police25 wk
San Diego Police26 wk
Sheriff26 wk
Carlsbad Police26 wk

Minimum requirements

  • Age 20 to apply, 21 by academy graduation
  • Legally authorized to work in the U.S.
  • High school diploma or GED
  • California Class C driver license at hire
  • No felony or misdemeanor domestic violence conviction

Not published by this agency

  • Hiring or lateral bonus
  • Physical test pass times
  • Tattoo policy
  • A numeric drug-use lookback

Field training

About 4 months

The contract approved in September 2026 has no raises until July 2028.
More than 200 of 2,031 budgeted officer positions were vacant, per the city budget analyst in March 2026.

Sources, checked Nov 13, 2026: Recruiting page · Recruit posting · FY2027 budget · Budget analyst report · Written test page · Physical test page · California DOJ stop data, 2024

Colors, fonts and logo from sandiego.gov.

Photo: Downtown San Diego skyline. St Diego Skyline Panorama 2013.jpg by Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and tinted.

Compare San Diego Policevs Oceanside Policevs El Cajon PolicePick departments