County Level Offices Job Descriptions

County Level Offices
Job Descriptions

Note to the Voter: Remember that you are the HR person choosing who is best qualified. Check out their educational background, their work history, and Community Service. If they are an Incumbents (IN) what I their voting record? (IN) means current in office politicians up for re-election Make sure it matches up with your core beliefs and what they are saying from the campaign trail they support. Check their party platform on their state level website. Which candidate is best qualified over all and lines up with your beliefs? Read carefully the requirments of each position. Does the Candidate have the work/education background to do this job? That is who you should vote for.

Disclaimer: Each Texas County may have a different job description depending on their population and needs of that area added to the Constitutional Requirements. The salaries they pay will reflect this.

County Clerk:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

No, Texas does not require an educational degree or a high school diploma by state law to run for or hold the elected constitutional office of County Clerk.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/county-clerk

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident 12 months

District Resident 6 months

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-no requirements

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 20

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Source: https://countyprogress.com/county-focus-county-and-district-clerk/

Salary:

The average annual salary for a county clerk in Texas ranges from $34,000 to $60,000, depending on experience, job scope, and the specific data provider.

Source: https://www.indeed.com/career/county-clerk/salaries/TX

The County Clerk's office has been in existence in Texas since 1836 as set out in Section 20, Article 5 of the Texas Constitution. The County Clerk's duties, prerequisites and fees of office shall be prescribed by legislation. The County Clerk Office’s mission is to provide the citizens, business owners and legal community with efficient and accountable service, preserving the integrity of all records the office is charged to index and secure, while managing and safeguarding the collection of fees. The County Clerk’s office touches every aspect of our lives. They record and maintain birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, deeds, assumed name certificates and other personal and business documents. Beyond recording life's major events, this office provides clerical support for the County Court at Law, maintaining records for criminal, civil, probate and guardianship cases. They also provide clerical support to the County Court for probate and guardianship cases. Your County Clerk is the clerk of Commissioners Court and has the duty of recording the minutes of all proceedings. The County Clerk is an administrator with expertise in the areas of strategic planning, case management, information management, records management, human resources, program evaluation, financial management and public relations.

Education Requirements:

Texas county clerks are required to attain 20 hours of continuing education during each calendar year that begins after their election or appointment.

Overview of Requirements

Annual Hours: 20 hours per calendar year.

Timing: Applies to each calendar year following the start of the term in office.

General Eligibility: There are no statutory pre-election educational degrees required to run for or hold the constitutional office of County Clerk in Texas, but elected officials must fulfill the annual training mandate once in office.

Additional Duties: In smaller Texas counties (fewer than 8,000 residents), the county clerk also acts as the district clerk, but the continuing education requirement remains 20 hours per year.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/county-clerk

For more information go to: County & District Clerks’ Association of Texas

Source: https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/index.php?structureid=11

District Clerk:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

No, the state of Texas does not legally require a high school diploma or college education to serve as an elected District Clerk

Source: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/e/District-Clerk-Do-you-need-a-degree-to-be-a-district-clerk

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident 12 months

District Resident 6 months

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-no requirements

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 9

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Source: https://www.lwvsouthcentraltx.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=735665&module_id=771415

Salary:

Salaries for an elected District Clerk depend heavily on the population and budget of the specific county:

Small to Mid-Sized Counties: Average roughly $32,000 to $58,000 per year (e.g., Shelby County lists around $58,372).

Larger Populous Counties: Can range from $75,000 to over $130,000 per year (e.g., Orange County sets elected district clerk compensation around $86,000+).

Deputy or Staff Clerks: Non-elected assistant or deputy clerk positions typically start between $17 and $25 per hour ($35,000 to $50,000 annually) depending on experience and location.

Source: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Bexar-County/salaries/District-Clerk/San-Antonio-TX?period=YEARLY

Education Requirements:

In Texas, an elected or appointed district clerk does not need a specific college degree to hold office, but must complete 20 hours of instruction during their first year and 20 hours of continuing education each subsequent calendar year.

Initial Instruction: Under Texas Government Code § 51.605, a district clerk must finish 20 hours of instruction on the duties of office before their first anniversary in office.

Continuing Education: After the first year, clerks must complete 20 hours of continuing education courses during each calendar year.

Jury Instruction: The annual hours must include at least one specific hour of instruction on impaneling grand and petit juries.

Hour Carryover: Clerks may carry over a maximum of 10 excess continuing education hours into the next calendar year.

Conferences: Educational hours are often fulfilled through programs provided by the County and District Clerks' Association of Texas (CDCAT) and the Texas Association of Counties.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/district-clerk

About:

The District Clerk's office provides support of the Judicial Districts and County Court at Law Courts. The District Clerk is the custodian of all court documents that are a part of any case and is responsible for the security of the records. Additionally, the District Clerk's office is responsible for docketing, indexing and recording, collecting fees, fines and court costs and managing all funds held in litigation; and performs such other duties as are imposed by statute or rule. The office maintains the official court records and receives for filing all documents in felony criminal, family, juvenile, delinquent tax and civil court cases. According to statutory requirements, the District Clerk's office gathers data and reports to many State and local agencies. This extensive reporting assists the County, the State and the Texas Legislature to determine the proper operation of the courts, the effectiveness of the statutes and the need for changes. The District Clerk's office is responsible for managing the records so they are easily retrieved for court use and public information. As custodian of permanent records, the Clerk must assure that they are preserved and archived. Modern methods and the use of technology to facilitate an ever-expanding office have been emphasized in the District Clerk's office in the past number years. As a financial officer, the District Clerk's office collects court costs and fines set by statutes which are deposited in the general fund of the County. Other fees are collected and allocated to the State for the benefit of State agencies.

For more information go to: County & District Clerks’ Association of Texas

Source: https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/index.php?structureid=15

District Clerk:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

No, the state of Texas does not legally require a high school diploma or college education to serve as an elected District Clerk

Source: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/e/District-Clerk-Do-you-need-a-degree-to-be-a-district-clerk

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident 12 months

District Resident 6 months

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-no requirements

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 9

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Source: https://www.lwvsouthcentraltx.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=735665&module_id=771415

Salary:

Salaries for an elected District Clerk depend heavily on the population and budget of the specific county:

Small to Mid-Sized Counties: Average roughly $32,000 to $58,000 per year (e.g., Shelby County lists around $58,372).

Larger Populous Counties: Can range from $75,000 to over $130,000 per year (e.g., Orange County sets elected district clerk compensation around $86,000+).

Deputy or Staff Clerks: Non-elected assistant or deputy clerk positions typically start between $17 and $25 per hour ($35,000 to $50,000 annually) depending on experience and location.

Source: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Bexar-County/salaries/District-Clerk/San-Antonio-TX?period=YEARLY

Education Requirements:

Initial Instruction: Under Texas Government Code § 51.605, a district clerk must finish 20 hours of instruction on the duties of office before their first anniversary in office.

Continuing Education: After the first year, clerks must complete 20 hours of continuing education courses during each calendar year.

Jury Instruction: The annual hours must include at least one specific hour of instruction on impaneling grand and petit juries.

Hour Carryover: Clerks may carry over a maximum of 10 excess continuing education hours into the next calendar year.

Conferences: Educational hours are often fulfilled through programs provided by the County and District Clerks' Association of Texas (CDCAT) and the Texas Association of Counties.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/district-clerk

About:

For more information go to: County & District Clerks’ Association of Texas

Source: https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/index.php?structureid=15

County Commissioners:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

No, Texas does not require a high school diploma or college education to run for or hold the office of county commissioner.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/county-commissioner

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident-12 months

District Resident-6 months

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-no requirements

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 18

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Salary:

Depends on Education/Work Background, county population and other factors.

Staggered: Elections are staggered so that ideally half of the commissioners are elected every two years.

Start: Terms begin on January 1 following the November election.

Term Limits:

Details: Texas law does not place a restriction on how many consecutive terms a county commissioner can serve.

Source: https://sanantonioreport.org/bexar-county-commissioners-san-antonio-city-council/

Salary & Compensation

Setting Pay: Under Texas Local Government Code Section 152.011, the local commissioners court sets the exact compensation, travel expenses, and allowances for all county elected officers. [1]

Salary Ranges: Because pay is determined locally based on county size, population, and budget, salaries vary drastically. Smaller rural counties may pay commissioners part-time or modest annual amounts (often under $40,000–$60,000), whereas major urban counties (like Harris, Bexar, or Travis) pay full-time commissioners six-figure salaries often exceeding $130,000 to over $150,000+ per year.

Source: https://countyprogress.com/setting-salaries/

Education Requirements:

Texas County Commissioners must complete at least 16 classroom hours of continuing education during each 12-month period.

Annual Hours: 16 hours of instruction focused on the duties of county commissioners.

Carry Forward: Commissioners may carry forward up to 8 excess hours from one 12-month period to the next.

Certification: Training must be certified by an accredited public institution of higher education or reviewed by the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas.

Legal Source: Governed by Texas Local Government Code Section 81.0025.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/county-commissioner

About:

The county Commissioners Court serves as the governing body in each of Texas' 254 counties. This administrative body was established by the Texas Constitution of 1876 and is comprised of a county judge and commissioners.

The major duties of the Commissioners Court involves overseeing the budgetary and policy making functions of county government. In addition, in many counties, commissioners have extensive responsibilities related to the building and maintenance of county roads. As a group, the commissioners and county judge are the chief policy-making and administrative branch of county government. Among their many functions, the court sets the tax rate, determines fees for many county services, and determines how the collected revenues will be distributed among different county departments to provide services to the community.

For more information go to: County Judges & Commissioners Association of Texas

Source: https://www.co.walker.tx.us/commissioners/; https://www.guadalupetx.gov/page/commcourt.home

County Judge:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

No, A County Judge in Texas does not require a high school diploma, college degree, or law degree.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident 2 years

District Resident 2 years

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-no requirements

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 18 Loc. Gov’t Code 86.0021

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Salary:

Local Control: The Texas Association of Counties notes that individual county commissioners courts determine exact compensation based on local budgets and population size.

State Supplements: The state provides a constitutional county court judge salary supplement (such as through appropriations outlined by the Texas Legislature Online), but total pay depends heavily on the specific county.

Examples by County: Salaries range from under $90,000 in smaller rural counties (e.g., around $93,000 in Pecos County) to over $200,000 annually in major metropolitan counties like Harris, Dallas, or Tarrant.

Source: https://www.co.pecos.tx.us/notice-2026-elected-officials-salaries/

Education Requirements:

Texas County Judges do not need a formal law degree or a license to practice law to hold office.

If a County Judge performs judicial functions, they must complete mandatory training managed through the Texas Association of Counties.

First Year in Office: Complete at least 30 credit hours of instruction in court administration, duties of office, and substantive, procedural, and evidentiary laws within the first 12 months.

Subsequent Years: Complete at least 16 hours of instruction each fiscal year (running from September 1 to August 31).

Magistrate Duties: Complete an 8-hour course on magistrate duties, plus a 2-hour update course during each subsequent state fiscal biennium if performing magistrate functions.

Exemptions

Non-Judicial Counties: A Constitutional County Judge is completely exempt from these continuing judicial education requirements for any fiscal year they file an affidavit stating they do not perform judicial functions (focusing solely on administrative and county commissioners court duties).

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/county-judge-ce

About:

The Texas Constitution vests broad judicial and administrative powers in the position of County Judge, who presides over the commissioners court, which has budgetary and administrative authority over county government operations.

Role: Serves as the presiding officer of the county commissioners court and head of the county's executive administration. In smaller counties (population under 225,000), they also retain judicial duties over a constitutional county court.
Source: https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/county-judge/what-is-a-county-judge.html

The County Judge handles such widely varying matters as hearings for beer and wine license applications, hearing on admittance to state hospitals for the mentally ill and mentally retarded, juvenile work permits and temporary guardianship for special purposes. The Judge is also responsible for calling elections, posting election notices and for receiving and canvassing the election returns. The County Judge may perform marriages. A County Judge in Texas may have judicial responsibility for certain criminal, civil and probate matters - responsibility for these functions vary from county to county. In those counties in which the Judge has judicial responsibilities, the Judge has appellate jurisdiction over matters arising from the justice courts. The County Judge is also head of civil defense and disaster relief, county welfare, and in counties under 225,000 population, the Judge prepares the county budget along with the County Auditor or County Clerk. New judges must obtain 30 credit hours in their first 12 months and 1.33 hours (16 hours/12 months) for each month afterward until the end of the current reporting period.

For more information go to: County Judges & Commissioners Association of Texas

Source: https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/index.php?structureid=13

County Constable:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

A county constable in Texas requires a High School Diploma or GED as the baseline educational requirement, though elected constables or specific deputy positions may allow college credit alternatives or require higher certifications.

Source: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/tarrant/jobs/newprint/4335246

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident 2 years

District Resident 2 years

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-no requirements

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 18 Loc. Gov’t Code 86.0021

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Salary:

Depends on Education/Work Background, county population and other factors.

The average annual salary for a County Constable in Texas is approximately $125,178, though pay varies significantly by county, local budget, and whether the position is an elected official or a deputy.

General Texas Salary Ranges

Average Annual Pay: ~$125,178 ($60 per hour)

Mid-Range (25th to 75th Percentile): $112,911 to $137,597 per year

Entry-Level/Top Earners: Ranges from roughly $101,743 to over $148,903 annually across standard counties.

Source: https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/constable-salary/tx

Required Education:

Texas county constables must hold a valid peace officer license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) by completing a basic peace officer academy, or obtain it within 270 days of taking office.

Initial Education and Licensing

High School Diploma: A high school diploma or GED is required.

Police Academy: Must complete a basic peace officer course (typically 690 to 728+ hours).

TCOLE License: Must pass the TCOLE licensing exam.

Grace Period: Newly elected constables who are not certified when elected have up to 270 days after taking office to get their license.

Continuing Education

Biannual Hours: Must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years.

Civil Process: Must include at least 20 hours of civil process training every four years (or biannually depending on specific guidelines).

Sources: https://countyprogress.com/office-of-county-constable/; https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/constable

About:

The Constables are peace officers and are the first link in the county's chain of law enforcement. Along with their deputies, constables have all the enforcement powers of Texas peace officers. They are sometimes referred to as the executive officer of the justice of the peace courts. Their duties are to:

Subpoena witnesses;
Act as bailiff;
Execute judgments; and
Service of process.

In large metropolitan counties the constable may also assist the county and district courts. In addition, they may perform patrol functions and make criminal investigations. They are involved in the overall effort to reduce the effects of crime in their communities, including in some cases the operation of truancy programs.

For more information go to: Justices of the Peace and Constables Association

Source: Texas Association of Counties https://www.county.org/

County Court at Law:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

The position of a Judge for a County Court at Law in Texas does not explicitly list a high school diploma or a college degree as a standalone requirement, but it requires a license to practice law, which inherently requires both undergraduate and law degrees.

Source: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462933/judge-qualifications-and-selection-chart-2026.pdf

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident 2 years

District Resident 2 years

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-25

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-4 years

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 30 Gov’t Code 25.0014

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Salary:

Depends on Education/Work Background, county population and other factors. The minimum salary for a statutory county court at law judge in Texas is set by Texas Government Code Section 25.0005 at an amount not less than $1,000 less than the total annual salary of a district judge with comparable years of service in that county.

Salary Structure Details

Benchmark: Tied directly to district judge pay, which features a base salary benchmark of $140,000 plus local county supplements.

Tiered Experience Scale: Salaries scale based on years of service tiers (typically 0–4 years, 4–8 years, 8–12 years, and 12+ years).

Local Discretion: The local county commissioners court sets the final total annual salary, which can include state and county contributions, supplements, and local augmentations

Source: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1450141/judicial-compensation-report-2020_1208_final.pdf

Required Education:

In Texas, judges of statutory county courts at law must be licensed attorneys and complete 16 hours of continuing judicial education annually, overseen by the Texas Courts.

Judge Education Requirements

First Year / New Judges: Must complete required foundational instruction (frequently aligned with general new judge standards of at least 30 hours covering administrative, substantive, procedural, and evidentiary laws).

Annual Continuing Education: At least 16 hours of instruction each fiscal year (September 1 – August 31) relating to substantive, procedural, and evidentiary laws or court administration.

Licensing: Unlike constitutional county judges, judges of statutory county courts at law are required to be duly licensed attorneys practicing law in Texas.

Source: https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/GV/pdf/GV.39.pdf

About:

It is the job of this court to efficiently, impartially and fairly manage and resolve the variety of controversies and disputes that are filed with and fall under the jurisdiction of this court. The jurisdiction of this court is determined by the constitution and statute. It is subject to change by the legislature, but generally speaking, the jurisdiction includes misdemeanor criminal cases, family law cases, class C appeals, civil matters, juvenile matters, mental health cases, and probate matters.

For more information go to:

Source: https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/index.php?structureid=12

County Treasurer:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

No, Texas does not have a state-level Treasurer position or any formal educational requirements like a high school diploma or college degree to hold comparable financial offices.

Source: https://jeffersoncountytx.gov/treasurer/faq.htm

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident-12 months

District Resident-6 months

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-not required

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. XVI, 44

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Salary:

Depends on Education/Work Background, county population and other factors.

The average salary for a county treasurer in Texas is about $81,070 per year, though pay varies significantly by county size and local budget.

Salary Breakdown in Texas

State Average: Approximately $81,070 per year ($38.98 an hour) according to

Large Counties: In major urban areas like Harris County, the salary is higher—standing at $139,547, though commissioners recently declined a proposed raise.

Small Counties: In smaller rural counties (such as Menard County), salaries can be significantly lower, tracking closer to $47,700.

Source: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/County-Treasurer-Salary--in-Texas

Education Requirements:

Texas county treasurers must complete an introductory training course and earn at least 20 hours of continuing education each year.

Introductory Course: Must complete an introductory course on county treasurer duties within one year of taking office (or at the earliest available date if appointed or filling an unexpired term). Governed by Local Government Code, Sec. 83.003.

Continuing Education: Must complete at least 20 hours of continuing education during each 12-month or calendar period.

Public Funds Investment Act: Must meet specific training requirements as the county's investment officer under the Texas Public Funds Investment

Source: https://www.ctatx.org/page/ctatx-ContinuingEducationoutsidehours

About:

The County Treasurer does not have custody or control over funds which do not belong to the county or those which are held by the county in trust. The County Treasurer preserves the system of checks and balances within the financial administration of county finances.

Receives and deposits all county revenues.
Acts as chief liaison between the county and depository banks.
Disburses funds upon the order of the Commissioners Court.
Records receipts and expenditures and reconciles bank statements.
May prepare the payroll.
May be designated as the county’s investment officer and required to submit regular reports on county finance to the members of the Commissioners Court.
May also act as the county’s human resources officer, employee benefits coordinator, risk manager and insurance coordinator.
May have some audit responsibilities in counties with no Auditor.

For more information go to: County Treasurers’ Association of Texas

Source: https://texascountiesdeliver.org/county-officials/county-treasurer/

Justice of the Peace:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

No, the state of Texas does not require a high school diploma or a college degree to run for or serve as a Justice of the Peace.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/justice-of-the-peace

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident-12 months

District Resident-6 months

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-not required

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 18

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Salary:

Depends on Education/Work Background, county population and other factors. The average annual salary for a Justice of the Peace in Texas is approximately $93,334.

General Range: Most salaries across the state fall between $64,300 and $111,800 per year.

Top Earners: High-end or top-tier salaries in the 90th percentile can reach up to $133,000+ annually, depending on the county.

County-Specific Pay: Because Justices of the Peace are elected county officials, compensation is set by individual county commissioners courts. Salaries vary widely based on population, local budgets, and precinct size. For example, smaller rural counties may pay closer to $60,000 to $78,000, while larger metropolitan counties report higher allocations (such as Dallas County's indexing over $12,000 monthly for certain administrative judicial grades)

Sources: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Justice-Of-The-Peace-Salary--in-Texas,

https://www.co.pecos.tx.us/notice-2026-elected-officials-salaries

Education Requirements:

Texas Justices of the Peace (JPs) must complete 80 hours of training in their first year and 20 hours annually after that.

First-Year Requirements

Total Hours: 80 hours of instruction.

Live Course Requirement: At least 40 hours must be completed via live courses provided by the Texas Justice Court Training Center (TJCTC).

Electronic/Other Hours: The remaining 40 hours can be completed through electronic means or additional courses from the TJCTC.

Magistration Training: Must complete mandatory magistration (bail/magistrate) training components within 90 days of taking office.

Annual Requirements (Subsequent Years)

Total Hours: 20 hours of approved instruction each fiscal year.

Live Requirement: At least 10 of those hours must be live courses provided by the TJCTC.

Remaining Hours: Can come from other approved training sponsors.

Sources: https://www.tjctc.org/bail/education.html; https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=GV&chapter=GV.25&artSec=

About:

Justice of the Peace Courts are part of the state judicial system. Justices of the Peace serve both as Judges and Magistrates. As Judges, they preside over Class C Misdemeanor criminal cases, punishable by fine only, plus Justice Court cases, Small Claims cases and Eviction Suits where the amount in controversy does not exceed $20,000.00. As magistrates, the Justices of the Peace issues arrest warrants, search warrants and seizure warrants. They conduct administrative and magistrate hearings, which include bail settings, arraignments, driver's license suspensions, examining trials, stolen and seized property hearings.Additionally, Justices of the Peace perform marriage ceremonies and perform inquest on deaths that occur when not attended by a physician. (Please note that this Justice Court does not perform marriage ceremonies.) Justice of the Peace Courts collects fines and fees for various civil and criminal cases filed.The duty of the Justice of the Peace Courts is to assist you in any way possible, but the Rules of Judicial Ethic prohibits the court from giving legal advice, telling either party how to present their case or expressing opinions of law. The Judge and Court clerks can answer questions of general nature and about court procedures only.

For more information go to: Justices of the Peace and Constables Association

Source: https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/index.php?structureid=22

District Attorney:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

A District Attorney (or prosecutor) in Texas requires both a high school diploma (or GED) and higher-level college and law degrees.

Source:

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident-12 months

District Resident-6 months

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge-Yes

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 21, 30 Gov’t Code 41.001

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Salary:

Depends on Education/Work Background, county population and other factors.

The average salary for a District Attorney in Texas ranges from approximately $91,532 to over $168,000 per year. Source: https://salaries.texastribune.org/departments/comptroller-of-public-accounts-judiciary-section/positions/district-attorney/

General Salary Ranges

Average / Median Pay: General statewide averages typically land around $91,532 per year, while state-level judicial data shows a median full-time salary of $168,000.
Elected Prosecutor Pay: Legislative updates like SB 293 set baseline judicial benchmark salaries around $175,000, which directly influences minimum state-paid portions for eligible elected prosecutors.

Source: https://www.tdcaa.com/legislative/sine-die-pay-raise-update/

Education Requirements:

To become a District Attorney in Texas, you must earn a Bachelor's degree, graduate with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school, and pass the Texas Bar Exam to become a licensed attorney in good standing.

Undergraduate Degree: Complete a four-year Bachelor's degree in a relevant field like political science, criminal justice, or pre-law.

Law School: Earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the Supreme Court of Texas.

Bar Admission: Pass the Texas Bar Examination and maintain an active license and good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

Once in office or practicing as a prosecutor, district attorneys must complete ongoing education every year:

Annual Hours: Require 15 hours of Continuing Legal Education every 12-month period based on your birth month.

Format: At least 10 hours must be in a formal classroom setting; up to 5 hours can be self-study.

Ethics: 3 of the 15 hours must focus on legal ethics and professional responsibility (1 of which can be self-study).

Specialized Training: Prosecutors handling criminal cases (Class B misdemeanor or above) must complete mandatory Brady training regarding the disclosure of exculpatory evidence within 180 days of employment, with refresher courses every four years.

Source: https://www.tdcaa.com/journal/rules-for-mandatory-brady-training/;

https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/district-attorney

About:

District Attorney's Office is one of the statutory prosecuting authorities in the State of Texas. The primary prosecuting officers are: The County Attorney which generally prosecutes misdemeanor crimes and advises the county on all civil matters; a District Attorney who prosecutes felonies only, and; a Criminal District Attorney which combines the offices of County and District Attorney. The Criminal District Attorney has the responsibility of prosecuting all misdemeanors and felonies while advising and representing the county in civil matters. The authority of the Criminal District Attorney is extremely broad. Within their jurisdiction, the Criminal District Attorney has sole discretion as to whether or not a case is prosecuted. A prosecutor can dismiss a charge or refuse to accept a charge on his own volition and there is no appeal. The District Attorney's Office handles civil matters in addition to its criminal responsibilities. The Criminal District Attorney's Office advises the county on civil issues and represents the county in some civil matters. Some civil litigation is handled by private firms. The Criminal District Attorney handles all mental commitments, protective orders, extraditions, renders legal opinions to all elected officials in the county and reviews all contracts entered into by the county. This office also has the responsibility of representing the state in all juvenile matters brought before the court. The criminal responsibilities of the Criminal District Attorney's Office are to prepare arrest warrants and search warrants; accept or reject all criminal cases Class "B" and above. This office prepares warrants and presents felony cases to the grand jury at its discretion. Class "C" misdemeanors, which are punishable by fine only, are the only criminal cases that are filed directly with the Justices of the Peace by law enforcement and then prosecuted by the District Attorney's Office. Class "B" and Class "A" misdemeanors are filed by the District Attorney's Office. It is the policy of the District Attorney's Office that all arrest warrants will be prepared and issued through this office. Felony cases (state jail, 3rd, 2nd, 1st degree) and capital cases are all prosecuted by this office. The Criminal District Attorney's Office consists of the Criminal District Attorney, nine assistants, three investigators, two victim/witness coordinators, and legal support staff. The county pays the salaries of all staff while the Criminal District Attorney is paid by the State. The Criminal District Attorney's Office provides a 24 hour on call system for law enforcement. This allows law enforcement to have access to legal advice at any time. Our office encourages such consultation regarding arrests, searches and the filing of appropriate charges to ensure that crimes may be prosecuted and punished. It is only through such cooperation that our legal system can function to serve and protect our community.

For more information go to: Texas District & County Attorneys Association

Source: https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/index.php?structureid=14

Tax Assessor Collector:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

To become an elected Texas County Tax Assessor-Collector, state law does not require a college degree, nor does it explicitly mandate a high school diploma as a prerequisite to run for or hold the office.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/tax-assessor-collector

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident-12 months

District Resident-6 months

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge- not required

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. TX Const. Art. VIII, 14

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Salary:

Depends on Education/Work Background, county population and other factors.

The average annual salary for a Tax Assessor-Collector in Texas is $46,608, which equals about $22.41 per hour.

General Salary Ranges

Low Earners (10th percentile): $26,086 per year

Average Range (25th to 75th percentile): $34,500 to $48,900 per year

Top Earners (90th percentile): $60,091+ per year
(Note: Salaries for appointed administrative roles or elected officials in large metropolitan counties can be significantly higher, ranging from $85,000 to over $149,000 depending on the county budget).

Source: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Tax-Assessor-Collector-Salary--in-Texas

Education Requirements:

Texas county tax assessor-collectors must complete 20 hours of continuing education each year under Texas Property Tax Code § 6.231.

Annual Hours: 20 total hours are required before each anniversary date of taking office.

Property Tax Instruction: At least 10 of those annual hours must focus on laws about assessing and collecting property taxes (if the office assesses or collects taxes).

First-Year Mandate: Newly elected or appointed tax assessor-collectors who handle property taxes must complete a one-time requirement of at least 40 hours of instruction on property tax assessment and collection—including Truth in Taxation (Course 28)—by their first anniversary in office. This includes specific training on ethics and constitutional duties.

Filing Proof: Officials must file an annual certificate of completion with their county commissioners' court.

Carry Forward: Up to 10 extra hours can carry forward from one 12-month period to the next.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/tax-assessor-collector

About:

The Tax Assessor-Collector is elected countywide by the voters and has specific duties outlined in the Texas Constitution and by statutes passed through Legislative action. The Tax A/C is an agent for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and is responsible for the registration and titling of all vehicles in the county, the collection of state sales tax for the state comptroller on all automobiles purchased in the county, the issuance of disabled parking permits (placards), along with the issuance of beer and liquor permits as required by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. Basic duties include, but are not limited to, receiving, investing, keeping and accounting, paying, applying, and disbursing all monies belonging to the County from whatever source derived, according to Law.

Calculates property tax rates for the county.

May collect taxes for cities, schools and other local taxing entities.

Processes motor vehicle title transfers.

Issues motor vehicle registration and licenses.

May process boat titles and registrations.

Registers voters and may conduct elections.

Collects various other fees for the state and county.

For more information go to: Tax Assessor-Collectors Association of Texas

Source: https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/index.php?structureid=35; https://texascountiesdeliver.org/county-officials/county-tax-assessor-collector/; https://www.guadalupetx.gov/page/treas.home

County Sheriff:

Qualifications needed to run for this office:

Under the Texas Constitution and state law, the baseline educational requirement to run for or serve as a county sheriff is a high school diploma or GED, alongside being eligible to be licensed as a peace officer by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

Source: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/analysis/html/HB03477H.htm

Us Citizen-yes

Texas Resident-12 months

District Resident-6 months

Registered to Voter in Area of Office Sought-yes

Minmum age-18

Practicing Lawyer or Judge- not required

Source of Law regarding Qualifications-TX Const. Art. V, 23 Loc. Gov’t Code 85.0011

Term of Office: 4 years, no term limits

Have no final felony convictions (unless pardoned or released from disabilities)

Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

Source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2026/qualifications2026.shtml

Salary: Depends on Education/Work Background, county population and other factors.

The average salary for a sheriff department employee in Texas is $66,110 per year, or about $31.78 an hour.

Salary Breakdown

Starting/Junior level: $47,310 per year ($22.75 an hour)

Average/Mid level: $66,110 per year ($31.78 an hour)

Top earners (90th percentile): $95,960 to $120,183 per year

Source: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Sheriff-Department-Salary--in-Texas

Education Requirements:

To serve as a Texas County Sheriff, a candidate must hold a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate (GED).

Core Education & Licensing Requirements

Minimum Education: A high school diploma or GED is the baseline educational requirement set by Texas law. [1]

Peace Officer Eligibility: A candidate must be eligible to be licensed as a peace officer by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

Continuing Education: Once elected or appointed, a sheriff must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their status.

Source: https://www.county.org/resources/resource-library/education-and-training/edu-continuing-education-requirements/sheriff; https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/analysis/html/HB03477H.htm

About:

Serves as a licensed peace officer and is responsible for enforcing the criminal laws of the state.
Manages and operates the county jail.
Provides security for the courts.
Serves warrants and civil papers.
Regulates bail bondsmen in counties with no bail bond board.
May serve as the Tax Assessor-Collector in counties with fewer than 8,000 residents.
Uniform Services Division
Patrol
Special Operations
Volunteer & Police Services
Honor Guard
Reserve Program
Courthouse Security
Warrants Section
Investigative Services Division
Narcotics
Sex Offenders
Crime Stoppers
Crime Scene Investigation
Community Relations
Jail Division
Emergency Management
Civil Process
Records
Notice of Estray
Public Information Act Request For Sheriff's Office Records Only
Accident Reports

For more information go to: Sheriffs’ Association of Texas

Source:https://texascountiesdeliver.org/county-officials/county-sheriff/; https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/index.php?structureid=34