Wyoming facing Highway Patrol staffing shortage as pay debate continues

Wyoming is facing a growing shortage of Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers, and compensation is emerging as a key issue during the 2026 legislative budget session.

According to data from the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association, the patrol has experienced an attrition rate of more than 56% among sworn officers over the past five years, with 178 troopers voluntarily resigning. The agency currently has roughly 29 vacant trooper positions, while the communications center is operating with a vacancy rate near 37%.

The staffing concerns come as troopers continue to play a central role in public safety across the state’s vast transportation network. The Wyoming Highway Patrol is responsible for patrolling thousands of miles of roadway, responding to crashes, assisting stranded motorists and supporting local agencies. In many rural areas, troopers are often the first and sometimes only responders available, particularly during severe weather or long-distance emergencies.

In fiscal year 2025, troopers investigated nearly 5,000 crashes and assisted more than 12,000 stranded motorists. Dispatchers handled more than 150,000 calls for service statewide, reflecting a growing demand for services across Wyoming’s highways.

Supporters of increased pay say compensation is a primary factor in recruitment and retention. Wyoming’s starting salary for highway patrol officers ranks near the bottom nationally and trails the broader market for law enforcement pay. Each time a trooper leaves, the state loses an estimated $116,000 investment in training and equipment.

The issue has surfaced during discussions of the 2027–28 state budget. In his recommended budget, Gov. Mark Gordon emphasized maintaining essential services and supporting core public safety functions as part of the state’s spending priorities. 

The proposal includes support for efforts to move state employee pay closer to updated market levels, which would affect agencies such as the Highway Patrol that have faced recruitment and retention challenges.

The Legislature will make final decisions on compensation as part of the biennial budget process. Lawmakers can adopt, modify or reject the governor’s recommendations before approving a final budget.

Observers say the outcome could have long-term implications for staffing levels and highway safety, particularly in rural regions where troopers serve as a critical link in emergency response and transportation safety.

For those who value the work Highway Patrol troopers do across Wyoming, the decisions made during this budget session will play a key role in determining the future of that service.