The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Police offer a robust pay and benefits package. To learn more, visit the webpage for the Washington Office of Financial Management and the public employee benefits page for the Washington State Health Care Authority.
Salary
| Job classification | Monthly salary |
|---|---|
| Recruit (Entry Level) | $5,894 |
| Recruit (Lateral Officer) | $6,463 - $8,467 |
Recruits and Lateral Officers are temporary in-training positions:
- Schedule: 160 hours over a 28-day period
- Education Incentive (Bachelor’s Degree = 4% / Associates Degree = 2%)
- Training Phases
- Onboarding (2 to 3 weeks)
- Recruit = Basic Law Enforcement Academy (18 weeks)
- Lateral Officer = Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy, in some circumstances (2 weeks)
- In-House Academy (6 to 7 weeks)
- Field Training (3.5 to 4 months, plus extensions if necessary)
Officer is the permanent position for either a Recruit or Lateral Officer completed with training and granted Independent Status.
- Schedule: 171 hours over a 28-day period
- Education Incentive (Bachelor’s Degree = 4% / Associates Degree = 2%)
- 10% Assignment Pay
- Longevity Premium – Starts at five plus years WDFW LE experience
Vacation leave and holidays
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the following rates:
| Full Years of Service | Hours Per Year |
|---|---|
| 1st and 2nd years of current continuous employment | One hundred twelve (112) |
| 3rd year of current continuous employment | One hundred twenty (120) |
| 4th year of continuous employment | One hundred twenty-eight (128) |
| 5th – 6th years of total employment | One hundred thirty-six (136) |
| 7th – 9th years of total employment | One hundred forty-four (144) |
| 10th – 14th years of total employment | One hundred sixty (160) |
| 15th – 19th years total employment | One hundred seventy-six (176) |
| 20th – 24th years of total employment | One hundred ninety-two (192) |
| 25th+ years of total employment | Two hundred (200) |
You’ll also receive 11 paid holidays per year, plus one personal holiday.
Retirement and other benefits
As a WDFW Police officer, you’ll be eligible for the Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters State Retirement Plan II (PDF), with full retirement eligibility beginning at age 53.
You’ll also receive a variety of other benefits, including: