Protective Service Occupations

25 occupations · 2024 BLS OEWS data

Protective service occupations include police officers, firefighters, security guards, and other workers who protect people and property from crime, fire, and other hazards.

Top Metro Areas for Protective Service Occupations

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

$76,727

avg median

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

$83,350

avg median

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

$71,125

avg median

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

$74,470

avg median

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

$68,466

avg median

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

$63,275

avg median

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

$57,190

avg median

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

$64,627

avg median

Occupation	SOC Code	Median Annual	Employed Nationwide
Animal Control Workers	33-9011	$45,830	11,790
Bailiffs	33-3011	$57,050	16,910
Correctional Officers and Jailers	33-3012	$57,970	365,380
Crossing Guards and Flaggers	33-9091	$37,700	90,180
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	33-3021	$93,580	110,790
Fire Inspectors and Investigators	33-2021	$78,060	14,050
Firefighters	33-2011	$59,530	332,240
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers	33-1011	$76,310	53,390
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers	33-1021	$92,430	93,680
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	33-1012	$105,980	153,130
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other	33-1099	$74,960	20,460
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers	33-1091	$58,610	70,310
Fish and Game Wardens	33-3031	$68,180	6,420
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists	33-2022	$52,380	2,780
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators	33-9031	$43,900	10,000
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	33-9092	$33,720	143,590
Parking Enforcement Workers	33-3041	$47,150	7,770
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	33-3051	$76,290	666,990
Private Detectives and Investigators	33-9021	$52,370	38,700
Protective Service Workers, All Other	33-9099	$41,600	83,110
School Bus Monitors	33-9094	$34,980	72,140
School Bus Monitors and Protective Service Workers, All Other	33-9098	—	—
Security Guards	33-9032	$38,370	1,241,770
Transit and Railroad Police	33-3052	$82,320	3,000
Transportation Security Screeners	33-9093	$63,360	46,340