Join the South Dakota Highway Patrol

Our application period is currently closed, but you can read further to learn how you can pursue a career that serves citizens with confidence, distinction and pride.  In addition to job satisfaction and a sense of purpose, you’ll receive benefits including:

• Excellent pay to include weekend and night shift differential
• Family health insurance
• State retirement
• Ongoing training
• New challenges and opportunities

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is a reliable friend to the travelers and residents of our state. For more information, email us or call headquarters at (605) 773-3105.

Click here if you would like us to contact you about a career with the South Dakota Highway Patrol!  

Highway Patrol Benefits

As a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper and employee of the state of South Dakota, you will receive:

• Complete salary during recruit training
• 15 days paid annual leave per year (20 days after 15 years of service)
• 14 sick days per year (accumulated and carried over each year)
• 10 paid holidays
• Paid health insurance for the employee with family options at group rates
• Paid life insurance for the employee
• Workers' compensation
• Per diem paid for each day worked
• Paid uniforms and equipment
• Membership to the “Class B” South Dakota Retirement System
  
  
  

Trooper Qualifications and Requirements

Because South Dakota Highway Patrol Troopers respond to a variety of situations, the application process involves several requirements. Applicants must:

• Be 21 years of age on or before the hiring date
• Be a U.S. citizen with a valid (or the ability to obtain a valid) South Dakota driver license
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Possess 20/20 binocular vision with or without corrective lenses
• Be in good physical condition with no chronic conditions that would impair performance
• Have normal hearing in both ears
• Have a good character background with no felony convictions
• Be willing to travel or relocate anywhere in South Dakota and respond to duty 24 hours a day

The entire selection process involves completing an application, written test, physical test, two interviews, background investigation, medical exam, drug screening, and polygraph exam.

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be capable of passing physical agility tests including push-ups, sit-ups, vertical jump, a 1.5 mile run, and 2,000-meter row during the first week of the Recruit Academy:

• Push-ups - The push-up test has no time limit with ability rated by age group. 
• Sit-ups - Applicants must perform as many sit-ups as possible within one minute. Ability will be rated by age group. 
• Vertical jump - The vertical jump measures muscular power. Applicants must make two marks as high as they can on a wall, with ability measured by jump height. 
• 1.5 mile run - To measure endurance, applicants are timed and may run, walk or jog as needed. Ability is ranked by time. 
• 2,000-Meter Row - Use this link to determine the standard at the 30th percentile.  Applicants are encouraged to achieve a higher percentile to remain competitive.

Click here to view the physical requirements chart for more information.

Highway Patrol Duties

The duties of today's Highway Patrol troopers are demanding and diverse. In addition to performing law enforcement work, the South Dakota Highway Patrol oversees motor carrier regulation, conducts crash investigations and assists motorists during times of stress.

Officers work under supervision of a squad sergeant and may receive work direction from academy training officers and field training officers until proficient in assigned duties.

Highway Patrol Training

As a new trooper, you must undergo 23 weeks of rigorous academy training at the Law Enforcement Training Center in Pierre. The academy consists of 13 weeks of basic law enforcement certification training and 10 weeks of Highway Patrol training. Curriculum includes:

Upon completion of the academic training, recruits undergo 10 weeks of field training with a veteran trooper and are then assigned to a duty station.

Apply for Highway Patrol Jobs

Non-Certified Applicants

Applicants who aren’t law enforcement certified must pass a written test, physical fitness test and two oral interviews. A background investigating will also be conducted.  

Certified Applicants

Highway Patrol often offers a $5,000 hiring incentive to current certified law enforcement officers from in and out of state or to those who are reciprocity eligible, pass the reciprocity exam and skills testing, and are selected for employment with SDHP. For additional information, contact us or call contact (605) 773-2231.

Applicants that are certified law enforcement in other states or through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) do not have to take the written exam. You will need to provide some sort of documentation that you are currently certified. Applicants will need to meet the physical requirements shown above.