Careers made here

Detention and Law Enforcement Deputies – already certified applicants

Starting Salary: $50,287.64 – $51,249.12
Applies to South Carolina Certified Officer working less than three years. Salary reflects working our
standard shifts of 86 hours bi-weekly.

Three Years of Service Salary: $51,741.04
Applies to South Carolina Certified Officer working less than three years. Salary reflects working our
standard shifts of 86 hours bi-weekly.

Six Years of Service Salary: $53,194.44
Applies to South Carolina Certified Officer working less than three years. Salary reflects working our
standard shifts of 86 hours bi-weekly.

Detention and Law Enforcement Deputies – uncertified applicants

Starting Salary: $48,342.32 – $51,249.12
Applies to the brand-new detention or law enforcement applicant. Salary reflects working our standard shifts of 86 hours bi-weekly.

Applicants might be eligible for additional incentives, depending on education and Spanish fluency.Call our HR Division office at 803-785-2407 to learn more.

Overtime

Employees who are eligible for overtime are paid overtime at the rate of 1.5 times his or her regular rate of pay for time worked. Overtime will be calculated at any hours worked over 86 in a two week pay period for non-exempt, sworn personnel. Non-sworn, non-exempt employees scheduled for 80 hours in a two week pay period, will be paid overtime for any hours worked over 40 in one week.

Direct Deposit

Employees are paid by a bi-weekly direct payroll deposit system. Checks can be deposited to any financial institution covered by the Federal Reserve. Employees will receive a pay statement indicating gross pay, net pay and deductions.

Collateral Duty Pay

Employees receive collateral duty pay, in the form of quarterly-paid supplements, for serving in specialized assignments over and above their regular, paid assigned job duties.

Extra Duty Opportunities

Law enforcement officers (patrol deputies and other class 1 certified officers) have the opportunity to volunteer for various extra-duty jobs to earn extra income working for secondary employers.

Education Incentive Pay

Employees receive educational incentive pay for completing degrees in pre-approved courses of study at approved accredited institutions.

Deferred Compensation

Employees are eligible to participate in the South Carolina Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan, 401K or 457. The amount deposited is determined by the employee and participation is optional. This is a tax-deferred savings program and is handled automatically by payroll deduction.

Worker’s Compensation

The Sheriff’s Department operates under and is subject to the Workers’ Compensation Act of South Carolina.

Health

The Sheriff’s Department provides medical insurance for its employees through a county funded Employee Health Care Plan. There are multiple coverage plans available for the employee to choose from, depending on his/her personal coverage needs. Basic coverage is provided at a minimal cost to the employee. Employees who wish to cover members of their family may do so through payroll deductions. Actual rate within the range is determined on which coverage plan is chosen and how many children are being covered.

The following semi-monthly rates apply:

Employee Only $35.00 – $88.50
Employee and Child(ren) $62.00 – $257.50
Employee and Spouse $135.50 – $242.00
Employee and Family 162.00 – $410.50

Dental

The Sheriff’s Department provides dental insurance for its employees through the county’s plan. There are two coverage plans from which the employee can choose, depending on his/her personal coverage needs. Basic coverage is provided at a minimal cost to the employee. Employees who wish to cover members of their family may do so through payroll deductions. Actual rate within the range is determined on which coverage plan is chosen and how many children are being covered.

The following semi-monthly rates apply:

Employee Only $3.11 – $3.58
Employee and Child(ren) $8.52 – $31.98
Employee and Spouse $9.28 – $10.67
Employee and Family $14.69 – $35.57

Vision

The Sheriff’s Department provides vision insurance for its employees through the county’s plan.  Basic coverage is provided at a minimal cost to the employee. Employees who wish to cover members of their family may do so through payroll deductions.

The following semi-monthly rates apply:
Employee Only $3.75
Employee and Child(ren) $7.75
Employee and Spouse $7.60
Employee and Family $11.80

Life

The Sheriff’s Department provides life insurance for its employees. Basic coverage is provided at no cost to the employee. Additional coverage on the employee or his or her dependents is available and can be paid for through payroll deduction.

Employee Wellness Center

The County of Lexington provides a Wellness Center for its employees and their dependents who are covered under county health insurance. The staff of the Health and Wellness Center is licensed to diagnose, treat and prescribe for a wide variety of common illness and injuries at no cost to the employee and their covered dependents. Check out Marathon Health at www1.marathon-health.com.

Credit Union Membership

Employees are eligible for membership in an employee credit union. Membership enables employees to deposit savings or handle loan payments through payroll deduction. There are other programs available through the credit union.

Gym Membership

Gym memberships are available to all employees at a highly discounted rate to the employee, made possible through the efforts of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association Membership

The department pays for membership in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association for all law enforcement and detention deputies. Membership in SCLEOA entitles the member to a list of member benefits. For more information, see SCLEOA’s website at scleoa.org.

South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association Membership

Certified personnel receive an Individual Membership to the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association. For more information, see South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association website at sheriffsc.org

Annual Leave and Sick Leave

Annual leave is accrued at the rate of 10 days per year for employees with less than five years of service with the county; 15 days for 5-10 years of service; and 20 days for 10 or more years of service. Sick leave is accrued at 12 days per year.

Retirement

All full time employees of the county participate in the South Carolina Retirement System or the South Carolina Police Officer’s Retirement System.

Montgomery G.I. Bill

Veterans may qualify to use their G.I. Bill education benefits while working and receiving on-the-job training at the Sheriff’s Department.

College Tuition Discount

Employees may be eligible for law enforcement tuition discounts at various institutions.

Work Schedules

Patrol deputies and detention deputies work the following schedule:

12-hour shifts – 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. or 6 p.m. – 6 a.m.

Two days on, two days off; three days on, two days off; two days on, three days off; (this cycle then repeats).

Detention deputies work a permanent shift (days or nights).

Patrol deputies rotate between dayshift and nightshift every 28 days.

Vehicles

At the discretion of the Sheriff, employees in designated positions are authorized to be assigned a department vehicle on a 24/7 week basis. Take-home vehicles are only available to personnel living in Lexington County or living in one of the adjacent/bordering counties of Aiken, Calhoun, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland or Saluda.

Equipment

Department personnel receive the equipment (uniforms, firearms, etc.) necessary for the position for which they are hired.