Washington County Hiring Deputy Sheriff

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is currently accepting applications to hire two deputies immediately. The applicants who qualify will be added to a list of candidates maintained by the Washington County Civil Service Commission. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will conduct Deputy Sheriff Civil Service Entry Level Exam as needed when qualified applicants are available.

How to Apply

Applications may be picked up at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, located at 2181 Lexington Blvd. in Washington, Iowa. Applications can also be downloaded at the Washington County website: https://www.washingtoncounty.iowa.gov/Jobs.aspx. For further assistance, contact the Sheriff’s Office at 319-653-2107 or email Karla Davis at kdavis@washingtoncounty.iowa.gov.

Pay

• Starting wages from $32.10/hour (beginning) to $42.21/hour (7-year step) depending on experience, effective July 1, 2026.
• Iowa ILEA Certified candidates may begin with up to 7 years of credit for pay and vacation purposes.
• The Sheriff’s Office may offer a signing bonus and/or reimbursement of a police reimbursement agreement as deemed appropriate.

Benefits

• Vacation earned at a rate of two weeks per year starting out.
• New hires receive 40 hours of vacation after 30 days of employment.
• IPERS Protection Occupation Class applicants may qualify for retirement at 80% with a 1.5% annual COLA after 30 years of service and age 50 or older, per the recently passed IPERS Bill effective July 1, 2024.

Schedule

• Patrol Deputies work 12-hour shifts.
• Every other week, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are off.
• Schedule consists of 6 twelve-hour shifts and 1 eight-hour shift within a 14-day pay period (80 hours total).
• Washington County contracts with seven communities, ensuring multiple deputies are typically on duty.

Qualifications

• Iowa certified candidates are not required to perform physical agility or written POST testing to be considered.
• Washington County offers opportunities for lateral transfers.
• Veterans will be given statutory preference as provided by the State Code of Iowa section 35C.

All applications should be turned in immediately to be considered in the current testing process. Only applications received before August 28, 2026, will be eligible for the next testing date. Physical and POST Testing will take place Saturday, September 12, 2026.