Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,730 | $15.74 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| Mean (average) | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| 90th percentile | $61,970 | $29.79 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 35 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,970 | $34,130 | $59,240 | 70 | 0.56 |
| Arizona | $50,010 | $37,520 | $75,750 | 380 | 1.91 |
| California | $44,740 | $37,900 | $58,100 | 990 | 0.89 |
| Colorado | $44,340 | $30,800 | $56,440 | 100 | 0.57 |
| Connecticut | $56,300 | $46,600 | $74,610 | 180 | 1.74 |
| Delaware | $38,910 | $35,310 | $50,690 | 50 | 1.65 |
| Florida | $39,060 | $33,880 | $63,580 | 230 | 0.37 |
| Idaho | $38,850 | $33,870 | $47,310 | 50 | 1.05 |
| Illinois | $42,760 | $33,580 | $57,900 | 330 | 0.89 |
| Indiana | $46,910 | $34,550 | $111,990 | 380 | 1.93 |
| Iowa | $35,750 | $31,990 | $43,940 | 230 | 2.37 |
| Kansas | $36,830 | $30,370 | $53,710 | 110 | 1.29 |
| Kentucky | $36,330 | $31,140 | $43,350 | 90 | 0.72 |
| Louisiana | $33,910 | $23,440 | $44,240 | 240 | 2.02 |
| Maryland | $47,950 | $33,510 | $59,980 | 120 | 0.7 |
| Massachusetts | $61,770 | $45,700 | $72,870 | 80 | 0.36 |
| Michigan | $46,620 | $36,000 | $61,070 | 330 | 1.23 |
| Minnesota | $44,080 | $31,780 | $59,670 | 210 | 1.15 |
| Mississippi | $35,360 | $27,620 | $48,570 | 240 | 3.33 |
| Missouri | $38,860 | $30,190 | $47,050 | 230 | 1.25 |
| Nevada | $46,570 | $36,420 | $61,040 | 820 | 8.64 |
| New Jersey | $48,620 | $40,550 | $59,270 | 270 | 1.03 |
| New Mexico | $36,930 | $28,430 | $64,540 | 110 | 2.09 |
| New York | $49,110 | $34,650 | $79,300 | 170 | 0.28 |
| North Dakota | $46,740 | $37,870 | $61,740 | 120 | 4.53 |
| Ohio | $45,880 | $34,960 | $86,550 | 190 | 0.55 |
| Oklahoma | $36,000 | $30,070 | $45,820 | 1,310 | 12.5 |
| Oregon | $50,120 | $36,660 | $74,380 | 70 | 0.58 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,930 | $34,650 | $65,870 | 570 | 1.53 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,950 | $21,840 | $27,530 | 250 | 4.33 |
| South Dakota | $33,820 | $28,090 | $57,110 | 80 | 2.8 |
| Virginia | $41,980 | $33,950 | $67,110 | ||
| Washington | $45,740 | $37,650 | $62,190 | 470 | 2.16 |
| West Virginia | $35,150 | $27,190 | $43,090 | 70 | 1.53 |
| Wisconsin | $42,150 | $30,850 | $67,310 | 260 | 1.44 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Casino Operations and Services, General CIP 12.0601
- Security and Loss Prevention Services CIP 43.0109
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Monitor establishment activities to ensure adherence to all state gaming regulations and company policies and procedures.
- Observe casino or casino hotel operations for irregular activities, such as cheating or theft by employees or patrons, using audio and video equipment and one-way mirrors.
- Report all violations and suspicious behaviors to supervisors, verbally or in writing.
- Develop and maintain log of surveillance observations.
- Inspect and monitor audio or video surveillance equipment to ensure it is working appropriately.
- Review video surveillance footage.
- Act as oversight or security agents for management or customers.
- Supervise or train surveillance observers.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- FileMaker Pro
- Microsoft Paint
- iView Systems
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Time Management.
Common job titles: Casino Enforcement Agent, Gaming Investigator, Security Officer, Surveillance Agent, Surveillance Investigator, Surveillance Monitor, Surveillance Observer, Surveillance Officer, Surveillance Operator, Surveillance Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators make?
The national median annual wage for gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators was $43,370 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $32,730 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $61,970. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators to change -1.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($61,770), Connecticut ($56,300), Oregon ($50,120). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.