A new three-year contract between the city of Kent and its police officers boosted beginning pay by 17.8% per year and veteran pay (at least five years with the force) by 16% compared to the previous contract.

An officer hired by Kent but still in the police academy will receive $96,306 per year or $45.54 per hour, according to copy of the agreement between the city and Teamsters Local Union 117 obtained by the Kent Reporter through a public records request. The starting annual pay was $81,660 in 2022 under the previous three-year contract.

An officer will receive pay increases each year until reaching the top pay level in the fifth year with an annual salary of $123,300 or $59.27 per hour, a 16% hike from the top salary of $106,308 in 2022. A sergeant will receive $148,056 or $71.18 per hour, an increase of 16% from a salary of $127,656 in 2022.

The new contract goes from Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2027.

“After many months of negotiations we have arrived at an agreement that ensures our officers remain competitive in the labor market in terms of compensation, benefits and overall working conditions,” said Kari Endicott, city Human Resources director, in her presentation to the City Council, which unanimously approved the contract March 18 after an executive session.

“These adjustments are critical to retaining our skilled law enforcement professionals and ensuring public safety,” Endicott said. “We value the partnership with the city of Kent and Teamsters Local 117 and we believe this agreement reflects our shared commitment to serve the community.”

Teamsters Local 117, which has a Tukwila office, took over negotiations for this contract from the Kent Police Officers Association. The Kent Police Department has 170 officers.

“Members of the guild reached out to us requesting our support,” Paul Dascher, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters 117, said in an email. “They sought Teamsters representation because they wanted a powerful, well-resourced union with vast experience representing law enforcement groups across our region.”

Teamsters 117 represents 17,000 men and women at 200 public and private employers across Washington state, according to its website. The union represents nine law enforcement agencies in the state, including city of Gig Harbor police officers, Port of Seattle police officers and sergeants and city of Redmond police officers, lieutenants and support.

“We are excited to see that officers and sergeants at the city of Kent have voted overwhelmingly to approve their first Teamsters contract,” Dascher said. “Our members in law enforcement put their lives on the line to protect the public. They deserve strong, professional representation and that’s what we intend to deliver.”

Teamsters 117 also represents city of Kent Public Works Department employees.

In addition to the annual salary increases for officers, the contract includes pay increases each year, including 4.2% retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. Increases on Jan. 1, 2026 and Jan. 1, 2027 will be at least 1% and as high as 6%, based on the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett consumer price index.

Officers can receive extra pay, up to a maximum of 8% per year, for assignments to SWAT, K9, Traffic, Special Operations, Field Training Officer, School Resource Officer, Crime Reduction Unit, Neighborhood Response Team and other units.

Officers receive extra pay each year for number of years on the job, starting at 2% for five years, 4% for 10 years, 4.5% for 12 years, 6% for 15 years, 9% for 20 years, 11% for 25 years and 11.5% for 30 years.

Officers receive another 4% for an associate arts degree and 6% for a bachelor of arts or science degree.

Therefore, an officer with at least five years of experience would make an annual base salary of $123,300. Special unit assignments could boost that by 8% or $9,864 per year; a 4% start of year hike would add $4,932; being with the force for 10 years would add another 4% or $4,932; an associate arts degree would add another 4% or $4,932.

All of the extra pay combined would raise the annual pay to $147,960 from a base salary of $123,300.

Kent also has continued its recruitment program of paying a $10,000 hiring incentive to an officer from another agency that joins Kent.

Kent vs Redmond

Redmond Police officers are paid slightly higher than Kent Police officers, according to Redmond’s 2025-2027 contract posted on the Teamsters 117 website, the union that represents both departments.

A starting officer in Redmond makes $107,952 per year compared to $96,306 in Kent. By the fifth year, that officer will make $125,016 annually compared to $123,300 in Kent.

A first-year sergeant in Redmond makes $153,048 annually with a boost to $157,632 in the second year. Kent pays a sergeant $148,056 per year.

Kent has a population of 140,400, according to city officials. Redmond’s population is 80,280, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau numbers.