SC Highway Patrol Uses Bonuses and Raises to Fight 11% Vacancy Rate

NewsData.io · United States · Oct 9, 2026

South Carolina Highway Patrol graduated 28 new troopers from Class 132 as the agency faces an 11% law enforcement vacancy rate statewide. Starting pay now exceeds $61,000 annually, and sign-on bonuses are offered in high-need areas following multiple rounds of legislatively approved pay increases. The patrol's commander acknowledged that the applicant pool has shrunk, requiring more aggressive recruitment efforts. Public safety agencies facing similar shortages may find this a useful benchmark for compensation strategies and recruitment positioning.