How much does a PNC police officer earn? The Ministerio de Gobernación (Interior Ministry) announced a salary of Q8,634 for the rank of agente (entry-level police officer) in July 2026 under the Reglamento del Régimen Salarial (salary-system regulation), approved through Acuerdo Gubernativo 113-2026. The announcement and the reported initial salary figures need to be read with their original labels; they do not establish an individual officer’s take-home pay. Gobernación’s announcement

Quick summary: Gobernación announced Q8,634 for an agente. The Bono de Bienestar Policial (police welfare allowance) is Q1,200 monthly for a full work schedule, subject to the stated schedule and administrative-status conditions. A policía alumno (police trainee) may receive a Q1,200 monthly stipend, subject to budgetary and financial availability.

What the salary regulation says about pay by rank

The Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias (AGN), the government’s news agency, reported that the regulation establishes remuneration for each rank of the police career and described the agente figure as an initial salary of 8 mil 634 quetzales. AGN, 3 July 2026

The Ministry’s July announcement does not provide a breakdown of the Q8,634 figure. Gobernación, 10 July 2026

The Q8,634 figure and reported initial salaries

Acuerdo Gubernativo 113-2026, issued on 2 July 2026, was published in the Diario de Centro América on 3 July 2026. It approved the Reglamento del Régimen Salarial de la Policía Nacional Civil and developed the salary framework under the Ley de la Policía Nacional Civil (Decreto 35-2024). AGN

In its announcement, Gobernación wrote: “Para el grado de agente se estableció un salario de Q8,634” [A salary of Q8,634 was established for the rank of agente]. Gobernación

AGN described the figure as “salario inicial de 8 mil 634 quetzales” [initial salary of 8,634 quetzales]. The Diario de Centro América used “salario base de 8 mil 634 quetzales” [base salary of 8,634 quetzales]. AGN, Diario de Centro América

La Hora’s account of the regulation, published on 3 July 2026, instead listed Q3,554.00 as the agente’s initial salary. Its figures for subinspector and inspector were Q4,410.00 and Q4,945.00, respectively. These attributed figures do not reconcile the agent’s initial salary with the Ministry’s announcement.

Q3,554 is not new: it has been the agente’s base salary since Acuerdo Gubernativo 266-2023, which added Q600 for PNC personnel in December 2023 (Soy502, 5 December 2023).

If you are an officer or are considering joining, check the amounts and deductions on the relevant boleta de pago (pay statement).

Bono de Bienestar Policial: Q1,200 monthly

According to Gobernación, the salary regulation introduced the Bono de Bienestar Policial, a contribution toward food expenses while personnel perform their duties:

  • Coverage extends to 100% of police personnel, according to their work schedule and administrative status.
  • The allowance is Q1,200 monthly for a full work schedule, with proportional adjustments where the work schedule differs.
  • It replaces the institutional dining service, which the Ministry said had reached 24% of the force, leaving officers in remote areas or special operational conditions without coverage.

Gobernación’s explanation

The Interior Minister had announced in May 2026 that the allowance would be retroactive to 15 May. Infobae reported on 11 July 2026 that administrative, technical and legal reviews had ruled out that option and that implementation would apply going forward. The academy, nursery and police hospital dining facilities were excepted from the announced dining-service closure.

During the academy: the Q1,200 stipend

The agent-training course lasts at least ten months, under Acuerdo Ministerial 213-2025, which amended Article 8 of Acuerdo Ministerial 231-2024. Official amendment

Acuerdo Ministerial 160-2026, dated 7 August 2026, amended Article 21:

  • A policía alumno receives a beca de estudio (study scholarship) covering police training, academic training, accommodation, prepared meals and basic medical services.
  • Subject to the budgetary and financial availability of the Subdirección General de Estudios y Doctrina de la Policía Nacional Civil, the trainee may receive a monthly stipend of Q1,200.

Official stipend and scholarship amendment

Gobernación said the increase to Q1,200 would benefit the class that was nearing graduation at the time of its announcement and would remain the amount for future classes. Gobernación

Requirements to join the PNC

Article 13, as amended by Acuerdo Ministerial 15-2026, sets out the following requirements:

  1. Be guatemalteco de origen (Guatemalan by origin).
  2. Have no final criminal conviction and not be subject to criminal proceedings.
  3. Have no criminal or police records. See antecedentes penales (criminal background checks) and antecedentes policiacos (police background checks).
  4. Have graduated from nivel diversificado (upper-secondary education).
  5. Pass the selection stages and admission evaluations: medical examination, laboratory and specialized tests, academic assessment, physical and athletic assessment, psychological assessment and reliability assessment.
  6. Sign a commitment to study and police service for at least two years.
  7. Female applicants must not be pregnant; the provision cites the physical demands of selection and training as the reason.
  8. Be 18 to 30 years old.
  9. Meet the minimum height: 1.55 meters for men and 1.53 meters for women.
  10. Have no tattoos of any kind anywhere on the body, and no piercings or scars from wearing earrings anywhere on the body.
  11. Not have been discharged from another agent-training course, except where discharge was agreed because of poor academic performance, illness, pregnancy, an accident or a fortuitous event inside or outside police academic activities that did not cause loss of fitness for police service, or at the student’s own request to pursue other studies at national or foreign educational institutions.

Official amendment to the admission requirements

For foreign readers: the rule expressly requires applicants to be guatemalteco de origen.

The PNC provides an official guía de conformación de expediente (application-file preparation guide). For a step-by-step explanation, see PNC police academy requirements.

What this page does not cover

This page does not give salary figures for Policía Municipal de Tránsito (PMT) or EMETRA, individual take-home pay, administrative employees’ total remuneration, or a directory of operational personnel.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a PNC police officer earn in Guatemala in 2026?

In July 2026, Gobernación announced Q8,634 for the rank of agente under Acuerdo Gubernativo 113-2026. It also announced a Q1,200 monthly Bono de Bienestar Policial for a full work schedule, with proportional adjustments for other schedules and coverage according to administrative status.

How much do a PNC subinspector and inspector earn?

La Hora’s July 2026 account of the regulation listed initial salaries of Q4,410.00 for subinspector and Q4,945.00 for inspector. These are reported initial salary figures, rather than verified totals including allowances.

What is the Bono de Bienestar Policial?

It is a contribution toward food expenses during service under the Reglamento del Régimen Salarial de la PNC (Acuerdo Gubernativo 113-2026). According to Gobernación, it covers 100% of police personnel according to their work schedule and administrative status. The amount is Q1,200 monthly for a full work schedule, with proportional adjustments for other schedules. It replaces institutional dining services that reached 24% of the force.

How much is a PNC academy student paid?

Acuerdo Ministerial 160-2026, dated 7 August 2026, provides that a policía alumno may receive Q1,200 monthly, subject to the Subdirección General de Estudios y Doctrina’s budgetary and financial availability. The scholarship also includes police and academic training, accommodation, prepared meals and basic medical services.

What are the requirements to join the PNC?

Under Article 13, as amended by Acuerdo Ministerial 15-2026, applicants must be Guatemalan by origin, 18 to 30 years old, graduates of nivel diversificado, without criminal or police records, a final criminal conviction or pending criminal proceedings. Minimum height is 1.55 meters for men and 1.53 meters for women. They must pass selection and admission evaluations, commit to study and service for at least two years, and have no tattoos or earring piercings or scars anywhere on the body. Female applicants must not be pregnant. The previous-discharge rule and its exceptions are set out in the requirements section above.

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