Michigan State Police troopers are full-service police officers with enforcement authority throughout the entire state. All troopers complete our residential training academy in Lansing, Michigan where they receive nearly 1,200 hours of hands-on, lecture, and scenario-based instruction in firearms, patrol techniques, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing, precision driving, water safety, defensive tactics, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity and implicit bias.

Troopers are asked for their top 3 post assignment preferences, and are provided their post assignment prior to recruit school beginning. At their posts, they are responsible for investigating and deterring crime, apprehending criminals and fugitives, conducting traffic enforcement to increase traffic safety, and participating in community outreach and prevention services activities.

After two years of service, troopers are eligible to apply for specialty assignments including detective, forensics, computer crimes, emergency management, aviation, fugitive teams, bomb squad, narcotics teams, canine unit, marine services team, motorcycle unit, tactical bicycle team, and many more.

Recruits receive $3,800 per month while in recruit school. Upon graduation, a trooper’s base salary is $50,000, not including overtime and shift premium, which increases to $73,000 after twenty years of service.