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

Description

The Pierce County Sheriff's 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 to speak with the HR Specialist. Or email your questions to

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 it's 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

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 Sheriff's Office. Work is performed in accordance with the mission, goals and objectives of the Sheriff's 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 driver's 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 Sheriff's 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 Sheriff's 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 Sheriff's 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 Sheriff's Office physical ability test (PAT) which includes the following:

ExerciseMax time to completeRequired Reps1300-meter sprint71 seconds121.5-mile run14:31 minutes/sec13Push-ups90 seconds204Sit-Ups90 seconds255Squat Thrusts3 minutes35

• 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 , 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. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of and , , 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 Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January
President's Day - Third Monday in February
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Juneteenth - June 19
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Veteran's 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 to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the website.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation:
Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security:
All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
ORCA Passport Program
Pierce County employees may participate in the County's ORCA (One Regional Card for All) Passport program.
Your Pierce County issued ORCA card is loaded with an annual Passport pass. The pass automatically renews every year. The pass will provide you with free transportation on regularly scheduled service on several public transit systems.

Miscellaneous Benefits:
Please visit website for more information.

Telework/Remote Options:
Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy
**All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.