Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to become a deputy sheriff in Texas
Deputy sheriffs in Texas meet the same statewide minimum standards as police officers, set by Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE): age 21+, 736-hour academy, state exam. Citizenship, disqualifiers, fitness and the rules for officers from other states are on the police officer page for Texas.
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Texas, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Texas, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | TX |
|---|---|
| Workers | 63,100 |
| 10th percentile | $51,240 |
| Median | $75,900 |
| 90th percentile | $98,350 |
| National median, government employers | $76,300 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pension in Texas
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas County & District Retirement System (employer-adopted plan) No tiers; each county's or district's adopted plan provisions | — | Age 60 with the employer's vesting requirement of 5, 8 or 10 years [per-employer choice] | Set by the employer | Varies |
| Texas Municipal Retirement System (city-adopted plan) No tiers; each city's adopted plan provisions | — | Age 60 with 5 years of service (or 10 years in cities with 10-year vesting) [per-employer choice] | Set by the employer | Varies |
The statewide plan a new hire usually joins. Some cities and counties run their own plans; check with the employer. Each plan's formula, vesting, cost-of-living adjustment and retiree health are on the Texas pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Texas
254 sheriff's offices in Texas.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Texas
Texas Basic Peace Officer Licensing ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep- IPMA-HR / PSHRA Entry-Level Police Officer Test (PO-EL)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory (NCJOSI-3)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- National Police Officer Selection Test (POST)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NTN FrontLine National - Law Enforcement ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Police Aptitude and Character Test (PACT)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Deputy Sheriff page.
Deputy Sheriff in other states
More government jobs in Texas
Texas government jobs · Texas public pension plans · police officer standards in Texas · exam practice in Texas