Annual Average Salary Information
Annual Average Salary: $53,420
What does a Protective Service earn?
On average, protective service workers earn around $53,420 per year in the U.S.. They work with a variety of clients in order to provide personal security, emergency response services and investigative services. Protective service workers can also choose to specialise in an area such as crowd control, pre-employment screening or event security.
How to earn more as a Protective Service
"To pursue a career in Protective Service, you will need training in areas such as law, criminal justice, and emergency services. You could also opt for a degree apprenticeship, which combines study and work experience in the field. To advance in a career in Protective Service, you can become a supervisor, specialise in a certain area such as fire safety, or open your own security consultancy. You can also look into independent contract work."
Protective Service responsibilities
The average protective service salary will vary depending on the state or city you work and the responsibilities of the job title. The job title could be for a senior or entry-level position, such as United States Protective Service Officer, Firefighter, Bailiff, Lifeguard, and Game Warden.
Most protective services careers are paid fairly, and employees can expect to complete various tasks. Responsibilities could include enforcing the law, protecting the public, guarding inmates, managing parking and transportation hubs, or controlling animals.
Protective services leaders earn a higher hourly rate for their jobs, focusing on delegating tasks to employees, measuring employee performance, and ensuring safety and company policy enforcement.
Skills and education level
Education level also affects pay ranges. Most government agencies and companies will expect you to have a high school diploma for entry-level jobs in protective services. You should be paid higher salaries and compensation if you work for organizations requesting a high school, associate, bachelor's degree, or master’s.
If you do not have a United States high school diploma, you can take the GED (General Education Development) test to show you have the same level of knowledge and education as a high school graduate. You can take the GED test in America or from 90 other countries around the world.
To earn the best United States protective service salary, you must identify the top skills on your resume. Skills potential employees should highlight include organization, time management, problem-solving, authority, people empathy, and good decision-making.
What to expect from Protective Service careers
You can start your protective services career as a trainee or junior officer. Graduate-level jobs are also available, with the average salary reflecting the education attained. A company will most likely expect you to work in an office environment, on public or private premises, or attending people’s homes and businesses. Your workload and variety of tasks will vary depending on the protective services field, such as fire, policing, or animal control.
While hours may vary across business sectors, protective services employees would expect to work set hours, which could be in the day, night, or weekends.
You will be expected to be adaptable and efficient, follow company policies and guidelines, and adhere to the state or U.S. regulations. Careers in protective services offer some of the greatest variety in day-to-day actions, tasks, and responsibilities.
Protective Service job title
There are numerous job titles within the United States protective service industry. Examples of protective services-related job titles include Police Officer, Forest Fire Inspector, Detective, Crossing Guard, and School Bus Monitor. Specialized roles requiring industry knowledge and a more significant experience level command higher salaries and pay.
You can search for protective services vacancies and salaries on Checkasalary.com for positions including Transit Police, Transportation Security Screener, Gambling Surveillance Officer, and more.
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Highest-paying locations for Protective Service jobs
The location of your job in the United States can greatly impact your pay and compensation. Utilize our Salary Calculator to compare the annual salary and hourly average salary for jobs in various locations across America, including California, Colorado, Virginia, and more.
While relocating can be a way to increase your compensation, it is not the only option. A shorter commute and working for a business in an urban area can also provide access to better salaries. Use our annual salary data to determine if employers in rural or urban locations are offering above, below, or average compensation for the job you are interested.
Protective Service professional development
Salary for professionals in protective services varies by career level and experience. Entry-level positions have lower pay, while fully qualified workers, senior staff, and management earn more. Relevant qualifications can lead to a higher starting salary. To increase your earning potential, consider taking training opportunities such as workshops or online courses. Our data on per-hour and annual salary can give guidance on the wage range and earnings for junior, intermediate, and senior industry roles.
Protective Service work experience
Obtaining prior work experience in your chosen protective services career path can significantly enhance your chances of getting hired and earning a competitive salary. Practical experiences such as internships, apprenticeships, shadowing, and vacation work can provide valuable skills and knowledge in the field. If it is not possible to find work experience directly for your prospective job, showcasing transferable skills gained from other experiences can also be beneficial to potential United States Protective Service employers and demonstrate your experience level.
Protective Service working hours
Working hours for a protective service job can affect monthly pay and salary. Some companies may offer higher overtime pay or additional compensation for working non-traditional hours, such as evenings, weekends, or holidays. The type of employment, such as part-time, full-time, permanent, temporary, or contract, can also impact salary and should be considered when evaluating compensation fairness.
Protective Service salary negotiations
To be well-prepared for salary negotiations with protective service employers, it’s crucial to research and understand the typical salaries and other compensation factors, such as average bonus, for prospective positions. Use our salary comparison tool and perform searches for different job titles and locations to determine your worth.
Keep in mind that protective services compensation is not only limited to financial benefits and performance-related commission, and consider other benefits such as the ability to work from home, additional paid vacation, gym membership, or private healthcare.
Annual salary, median salary, and taxes
It’s crucial to keep in mind that taxes will be taken out of your salary when reviewing median or annual salary figures for a role. Your employer may deduct various employment taxes, or they may be your responsibility to pay. These taxes can include Federal Income Tax, Federal and State Unemployment Tax, Social Security and Medicare Tax, and Additional Medicare Taxes in the United States.
Protective Service Job search
If you are seeking a better salary, start your protective service job search today. You can search for jobs by job title and set up job alerts to get notified as soon as an employer posts their vacancy.