Protective service occupations: pay, outlook, and education
Official pay, projected growth, openings, and entry requirements for 831 U.S. occupations. Filter, sort, and open any career for state and metro pay, skills, programs, and licenses.
24 occupations. Wages Verified data Growth and openings Official projection
| Occupation | Median wage | Change 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Employment | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives SOC 33-1012 | $106,040 | +3.3% | 10,600 | 160,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Detectives and criminal investigators SOC 33-3021 | $93,790 | +0.2% | 7,800 | 120,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers SOC 33-1021 | $93,530 | +3.7% | 6,600 | 101,600 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Transit and railroad police SOC 33-3052 | $90,230 | +3.2% | 300 | 4,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of correctional officers SOC 33-1011 | $77,970 | -2.5% | 3,700 | 56,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other SOC 33-1099 | $76,400 | +1.9% | 1,700 | 21,600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Police and sheriff's patrol officers SOC 33-3051 | $76,210 | +3.5% | 51,500 | 693,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Fire inspectors and investigators SOC 33-2021 | $75,920 | +4.2% | 1,600 | 14,700 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Fish and game wardens SOC 33-3031 | $74,060 | -5.7% | 500 | 6,200 | Bachelor's degree |
| Transportation security screeners SOC 33-9093 | $66,770 | -4.2% | 4,500 | 53,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Firefighters SOC 33-2011 | $59,280 | +3.7% | 26,800 | 355,300 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Correctional officers and jailers SOC 33-3012 | $58,940 | -7.4% | 28,400 | 397,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists SOC 33-2022 | $56,870 | +13.1% | 400 | 3,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Bailiffs SOC 33-3011 | $56,600 | -1.9% | 1,600 | 18,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of security workers SOC 33-1091 | $55,940 | +3.7% | 6,800 | 82,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Private detectives and investigators SOC 33-9021 | $51,220 | +5.5% | 3,200 | 39,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Parking enforcement workers SOC 33-3041 | $46,730 | -1.1% | 800 | 9,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Animal control workers SOC 33-9011 | $45,660 | +4.0% | 1,500 | 13,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators SOC 33-9031 | $43,370 | -1.8% | 1,100 | 9,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Protective service workers, all other SOC 33-9099 | $42,540 | +3.0% | 22,600 | 82,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Crossing guards and flaggers SOC 33-9091 | $38,100 | +3.5% | 17,300 | 94,800 | No formal educational credential |
| Security guards SOC 33-9032 | $38,020 | +0.9% | 156,000 | 1,294,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| School bus monitors SOC 33-9094 | $35,100 | -1.9% | 13,400 | 76,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers SOC 33-9092 | $33,580 | +5.5% | 45,400 | 162,000 | No formal educational credential |
Employment is from BLS Employment Projections (2025) when OEWS does not publish it. Median wage is the OEWS May 2025 national median annual wage; hourly medians are shown where BLS publishes hourly wages only.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.