The police officer occupation is one of the few jobs where education is not a barrier to earning potential. According to the Ontario government, the average annual police officer salary in Ontario with a high school diploma (or equivalent), earned $106,788 in 2016 compared to police officers with a bachelor’s degree who earned $106,543. Interestingly enough, degree holders earned $245/year less.

This is great news for those who only have a high school diploma but are looking for a fulfilling career with high-earning potential.

While education barriers are relatively low, becoming a police officer in Ontario is not a job that just any high school graduate can land.

In this article, we outline key information to help you land your dream job including:

Job Outlook for Ontario Police Officers

The labour market conditions for police officer jobs are currently “Average”. This indicates that these jobs are not difficult to find nor are they necessarily in abundance. Salaries have increased at a slower rate compared to jobs rated as “Above average”, but faster than those rated as “Below average”.

According to the Job Bank, employment growth and retirement will lead to a moderate number of new positions. In other words, the balanced labour market from 2016 - 2018 means there have been as many jobs available as there have been job seekers.

Top 2 Regions in Ontario

In Ontario, the top two regions with the highest number of expected job openings are currently Toronto and Ottawa. The total number of expected job openings from 2017 - 2021 is between 4,001 - 5,000 with 68% of those jobs being replacement jobs and 32% being new jobs.

Toronto

In this region, the number of job postings available is 170.

Ottawa

In this region, the number of job postings available is 56.

Other regions have a significantly lower number of opportunities (less than 20).

How Long Does It Take to Become a Police Officer in Ontario?

There is no set time period for the hiring process. It varies between police agencies and also depends on the successful completion of all the stages in the application process. You can expect to set aside 6 months for the application process.

If you are not successful in any part of the process, some police agencies may require a one-year waiting period before another application can be submitted.

To find out how long it takes at the police agency of your choice, contact the police agency directly.

You can also read more about the general guidelines (and disqualifiers) for becoming a police officer in Canada here.

What are the Minimum Requirements for Ontario Police Officer Applicants in Ontario?

Before applying, ensure that you meet the minimum requirements. The following list of application requirements applies to most police agencies in Ontario:

Minimum 18 years of age
Fluency in English
Good driving record
Be in excellent health
Have good character
Canadian high school diploma or equivalent
Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
Valid current standard first aid / CPR “C” certification
Class 'G' driver's license, full driving privileges, and a maximum of 6 demerit points
Meet the necessary level of physical abilities, vision standards, and hearing standards
No criminal convictions which have not been pardoned and no criminal charges pending

In addition to the above, the Toronto Police Service requires candidates to meet the following requirements:

Possess a valid O.A.C.P. (Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Certificate) certificate,
Be able to pass a security clearance as well as a background investigation, credit check, and reference check.

Willingness to serve anywhere in the province is an additional requirement for those applying to the Ontario Provincial Police.

LEARN MORE: How to Become a Police Officer in Canada & Disqualifiers to Avoid

Police Officer Salaries in Ontario

The provincial hourly rate ranges from $30.05-$57.69/hr with a median hourly wage of $46.15/hr. The salary range for police officers in Ontario is $56k-$117k/year, while the median annual salary is $97,115/year.

The median employment income in 2015 for police officers in Toronto was $107,627. The median employment income in 2015 for police officers in Ottawa was $105,533, and the median employment income in 2015 for police officers in Hamilton was $106,485.

The starting salary at the Toronto Police Service is $70,643.30/year. By the fourth year, expected the annual salary to be $100,923.48/year. Benefits include paid vacation, family medical and dental benefits, life insurance, pension plan, and paternal and maternity leave.

The starting salary at the Ottawa Police Service is $67,615.92/year. By the fourth year, depending on your performance reviews, the annual salary is expected to increase to $99,434.93/year. Benefits include education reimbursement programs, a generous pension plan, medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, as well as long-term disability insurance.

Meanwhile, if working for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the average salary is roughly $100,500/year.

Here is a list of average salaries for police officers in Ontario, according to Glassdoor:

Department	Average/year	Range
Toronto Police Service	$108,922	$95K - $115K
Peel Regional Police	$77,735	$60K - $93K
City of Hamilton	$98,688	$90K – 100K
City of Toronto	$102,548	$67K - $117K
Ontario Provincial Police	$100,501	$100K – 103K
York Regional Police	$86,968	$77K - $95K
Ottawa Police Service	$98,508	$56K - $195K
Halton Regional Police	$103,049	$98K - $104K

Looking to get into a career in policing? Check out some of our Paladin to Policing stories.

How to Become an Ontario Provincial Police Officer (OPP)

Interested in joining the Ontario Provincial Police? Here are just a few of the minimum qualifications needed to beat out the competition:

Must be at least 18 years of age
Must have an Ontario Secondary School program diploma (grade 12), or equivalent
Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Must have a value Class ‘G’ license with no more than six demerit points.
Must not have a criminal record
Must be certified in standard first aid and CPR
Must pass medical, psychological, security, and financial assessment tests

Another must for the OPP? Being in top physical condition and having a willingness to serve. The latter is one to consider as detachments range from being located in large urban areas to small, isolated settings. When applying, you must pick your top six locations.

If you become a successful hire, the Constable Selection System requires a medical assessment be completed. This includes meeting the hearing and vision standards.

Check out this self-assessment tool to see where you stand.

Toronto Police Officer Application Process

The process outlined below belongs to the Toronto Police Service. Most police agencies in Ontario follow a similar process.

Obtain an OACP Certificate of Results from http://www.OACPCertificate.ca
Complete medical exams for hearing and vision tests.
Start an ongoing fitness log; logs from the most current two-weeks may be requested at any time.
Submit a Toronto Police Service online application
Pre-Screening
Pre-Background Questionnaire and written interview
Complete a fitness assessment, obtaining a minimum of Level 7
In-person interviews
Complete the Minnesota Multi-Phasic Personality Inventory
Background Investigation
Psychological Assessment
Conditional Offer of Employment

Applicants can be declined at any stage in the application process. The most suitable candidates in the application pool are selected amongst those who pass every stage.

Once you have been selected, you advance to recruit training. In the Toronto Police Service application process, you are sent to the Ontario Police College for recruit training. Recruits need to pass this program in order to become a police officer.

Prepare for a Police Career at Paladin

Start your career in security and make your police officer application stand out by working at Paladin Security. At Paladin, Canada’s highest paying and most reputable security company, we'll help prepare you to advance into an occupation as a police officer.

Prepare for your policing career with Paladin Security.

How to Become a Police Officer in Ontario