My wife recently applied to be one in 3 different towns. They actually pay pretty well, considering. The problem is the bonkers level of background checks and pre work to even be interviewed.
The applications were between 30-40 pages. Then you have pre-tests, one of which is 2 hours long. Then the interview. If you get past all that, then you have the lie detector and drug test, and THEN you can shadow someone and see if it’s the right fit for you.
Some of the questions on the lie detector are even about your family and spouses’ past. She nailed every pre-test, scoring in the top percentile and crushed the interview, but she was ineligible because I used marijuana a couple years ago. I bet it’s easier to become a cop.