The City of Charlotte’s 2025 fiscal year began earlier this month. Its new budget includes increases in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer pay, an extension of a $7,500 hiring bonus for sworn positions, and other incentives and benefits.
Among the highlights:
Increased officer pay
The Fiscal Year 2025 budget provides a 2.5% salary increase for all CMPD officers, effective July 6, 2024. This means officers can now make up to $113,931 when all incentives are combined.
The new starting salary for an officer is $58,623. Additional salary and benefits might also apply.
$7,500 hiring bonus
We know the value of our officers’ commitment to serving the Queen City, as does our local government. The City of Charlotte has extended CMPD’s $7,500 hiring bonus for the 2025 fiscal year. This incentive is open to all lateral officers and new police recruits. Recruits are rewarded throughout training and after their first year of service with the department.
Additional incentives
Other highlights from the new city budget include:
- Changes to the employee health plan, including the addition of family-forming fertility and acupuncture benefits
- An increase in short-term disability coverage from 60% to 70% of an employee’s salary
- A provision to cover the full healthcare insurance premium for eligible spouses and dependents of city employees killed in the line of duty
- Expansion of the 911 call center in CMPD headquarters and the Police and Fire Training Academy with $7 million in funding
In addition, the shift differential and military incentives implemented in January 2023 remain in place in the new budget. Employees permanently assigned to regular work on the second, third and fourth shifts earn a 2.5% bonus. Those with eligible military service earn a 5% bonus.
These and other incentives are on top of the Fiscal Year 2025 base pay increase.
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