| Paid training | Recruits are paid a full-time salary while they attend the academy. Entry-level pay is $65,478 as of 4 July 2026, with a 5% uplift for an associate degree or qualifying military service and 10% for a bachelor's degree. No repayment clause is published. |
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| Pension | Sworn officers contribute 6% of pay to the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System and qualify for full retirement after 30 years of creditable service or at age 55. The city also pays 5% of salary into a 401(k) for sworn personnel and $1,300 a year into a Retiree Health Reimbursement Plan. |
| No experience needed | A high school diploma or GED is the education bar (a correspondence diploma is not accepted in North Carolina). Applicants may apply at 20, must be US citizens, and need two years of driving experience. Officers must live in North Carolina or South Carolina within 45 miles of headquarters. |
| Shift differential | 2.5% shift differential for officers permanently assigned to second or third shift. Separately, 5% for language proficiency in one of 15 languages, 5% for police training officer status and 5% for qualifying military experience. |
| Retirement match | The city contributes 5% of salary to a 401(k) for sworn personnel, on top of the state defined-benefit pension. |
| Birthing-parent leave | 6 weeks |
Every claim above is sourced and dated. See sources on the full page.
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