Salary and Benefits

Salary, Benefits & Incentives

Salary Scale:

  • Entry level uncertified: $20.90/hour 
  • Laterals/Deputy II: $21.99/hour 

Retirement:

  • Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)
  • Municipal Police Plan 5
  • Retirement can occur at: 
  1. Any age with 25 or more years of service credit
  2. 60 years of age or older with 6 or more years of service credit
  • 3% pension factor not to exceed 90% of final average salary
  • 6-year vesting period
  • For further details please visit: www.pera.state.nm.us

Time-Off Benefits:

  • 10 paid holidays per year
  • Sick leave (accrued at approximately 96 hours/year)
  • Vacation leave – 96 hours/year (up to 5 years of service),  120 hours/year (5 – 10 years of service), 144 hours/year (10-15 years of service), 168 hours/year (15-20 years of service), 192 hours/year ( 20+ years of service)
  • Bereavement leave – Up to 24 hours

Insurance:

  • Group Health Insurance Plan includes major medical, dental, vision, prescription medicine and life insurance for employee and their eligible dependents; for the employee it also includes short-term disability.
  • Life insurance – Employer provided life insurance accompanies the medical benefits or you may elect to participate in the life insurance plan only.

Miscellaneous Benefits:

  • Employee Assistance Program 

Supplemental Benefits:

  • Short-term Disability
  • Accident & Disability Insurance
  • Dental Source
  • Life
  • Vision Care Direct
  • Deferred Compensation Plan

Incentives:

  • Bonuses
  1. Take home vehicles within a 30-mile radius any county line.
  2. $750.00 yearly uniform allowance
  3. Educational Assistance – Tuition Reimbursement (available after one year)
  4. All equipment (uniforms, duty belts & accessories, jacket, firearm*, etc.) issued 

*Deputies may carry their personally owned firearm at the discretion of Otero County Sheriff’s Office firearms instructor. (Ammunition not provided by Otero County Sheriff’s Office)