Deputy Sheriff - Entry Level Salary $40.78 - $53.97 Hourly Location Tacoma, WA Job Type Civil Service Job Number CS26-03 Department Sheriff - Police Protection Opening Date 01/01/2026 Closing Date Continuous
Benefits Description The Pierce County Sheriffs Office is now accepting applications for entry level Deputy Sheriff. Please apply and test with Public Safety Testing. Now Offering a $10,000 Hiring Incentive for Entry Level Deputy Sheriff! Lateral Candidates DO NOT need to take a written exam. If you are a commissioned corrections officer and are interested in a lateral opportunity, please contact Pierce County Civil Service at pccivilservice@piercecountywa.gov
New lateral hires receive a hiring incentive of $25,000 and 80 hours of sick leave available immediately and 80 hours of vacation leave available for use after six months of employment.
Questions If you have any questions regarding testing, the background process, or the position, you may schedule an appointment to speak with the HR Specialist. Or email your questions to pccivilservice@piercecountywa.gov.
About the Sheriff's Department: The Pierce County Sheriff's Office has 336 commissioned staff who serve a rural and urban landscape covering 1,806 square miles. We are a "full-service agency" that provides law enforcement, jail, court security, civil processing services to all areas of unincorporated Pierce County and the contract cities of Edgewood and University Place. We provide law enforcement services over a very large and difficult geography that stretches from the Key Peninsula to Mount Rainier. This includes mountains, rivers, lakes, coastline, and heavily wooded areas that border populous residential areas, a large military base, and a major interstate.
Why its a great opportunity: The Pierce County Sheriff's Office prides itself on upholding our Core Values: Courage, Compassion, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility. Pierce County Sheriff's deputies are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism to serve citizens and help make Pierce County one of the best places to live and work in the beautiful Great Northwest. We encourage you to learn more about our department by clicking here.
Future Opportunities: The Sheriff's Office has additional duty assignments available for patrol deputies in Search and Rescue, Marine Services, Dive Team, SWAT Team, Hazardous Device Team, Special Investigations Unit, Community Support Team, and the Gang Unit. There are also promotional opportunities to move up through the ranks of leadership and investigational positions.
Position Summary Position Summary This is responsible, general duty and investigatory law enforcement work involving the protection of life/property and the preservation of the peace for the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Work is performed in accordance with the mission, goals and objectives of the Sheriffs Office, and in compliance with governing federal, state, and local laws. Click Deputy Sheriff for a classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions, competencies, physical demands and working conditions/environment.
Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO APPLY: High School diploma or G.E.D. certificate. At least age twenty-one (21) at time of appointment. Valid Washington State drivers license at time of appointment and be able to provide proof of insurability. Must be a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident or deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) recipient, and ability to speak, read and write the English language as required by RCW 41.14.100. Ability to successfully complete Pierce County Sheriffs Office background investigation. Condition of continued employment: Ability to pass the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission physical fitness requirements and the physical fitness standards required by the Sheriffs Office at time of entrance to the Basic Law Enforcement Academy. Condition of continued employment: Entrance to and successful completion of the Basic Law Enforcement Academy as required by RCW 43.101.
Supplemental Information What happens after I take the exam with Public Safety Testing? Applicants must achieve a score of 70% or higher on the written exam and pass the physical abilities test (PAT) with Public Safety Testing. Once you have passed the written and PAT, applicants will be invited to complete a Pierce County Sheriffs Office application. Once a completed application is received, applicants will be placed on a Civil Service Employment Register according to their score on the written exam. Deputy Sheriff employment registers are established every month. Applicants who make the employment register will undergo a comprehensive pre-employment background investigation which includes, but is not limited to, a personal history statement, pre-oral board interview, oral board, polygraph, fingerprinting, suitability assessment report (SAR) as well as criminal records, credit, driving, reference and employment checks. After a conditional offer of employment is given, applicants take the psychological and medical exams. During the background process, candidates are required to complete the Sheriffs Office physical ability test (PAT) which includes the following: Exercise Max time to complete Required Reps 1300-meter sprint 71 seconds 121.5-mile run 14:31 minutes/sec 13 Push-ups 90 seconds 20 Sit-Ups 90 seconds 25 Squat Thrusts 3 minutes 35
For additional information regarding the background standards, please read the job announcement on the Public Safety Testing website.
If you have a question about this opportunity, please email Civil Service at PCCivilService@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Title. If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers. Individuals needing accommodation in the application or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.
ATTENTION: All communication from Pierce County Civil Service is sent by email using the email address listed on your application. This may include communication that contains confidential or private information such as exam results and reasons for removal, etc. You are responsible for keeping your email address updated.
At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a great place people are proud to call home? We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind.
We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our Leadership Training Program, and a County Book Club. We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. Thats why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Our benefits: Vacation (Annual Leave) After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave. Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows: Vacation Accruals: During years 1-3, 12 Days During years 4-7, 16 Days During years 8-13, 20 Days During years 14-18, 23 Days During years 19, 24 Days During years 20, 25 Days During years 21, 26 Days During years 22, 27 Days During years 23, 28 Days During years 24, 29 Days During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next. Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.
Military Leave: Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.
Holidays: Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows: New Years Day - January 1 Martin Luther King, Jrs birthday - Third Monday in January Presidents Day - Third Monday in February Memorial Day - Last Monday in May Juneteenth - June 19 Independence Day - July 4 Labor Day - First Monday in September Veterans Day - November 11 Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after Christmas Day - December 25
Personal Holidays: Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.
Furlough: Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.
Sick Leave: Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.
Insurance Benefits: Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible