Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Parking enforcement workers focus on monitoring parking regulations and supporting orderly use of parking spaces. Nationally, this is a smaller occupation with 8,000 workers, so opportunities are more concentrated in specific locations rather than spread widely. The typical entry point is accessible, requiring a high school diploma or equivalent, which can make this a potential option for people entering the workforce or changing careers without advanced degrees. Skills in customer service, interpersonal communication, and problem solving are important, along with physical strength and stamina to handle the demands of the role. The projected national employment growth is -1.5%, indicating a slightly declining employment outlook overall, but there are still an estimated 1,000 annual openings, which can reflect turnover and replacement needs. For people who enjoy working with the public, staying active, and applying rules consistently, this path can be a structured, rules-based public-facing career to consider.
Parking enforcement workers have a national median annual salary of $47,150, placing earnings in a moderate range for this field. Pay can vary significantly by location. Among the top states, Washington stands out with a median salary of $68,120, followed by California at $62,280 and Massachusetts at $51,980. New York and Colorado are closer to the national median with $47,590 and $47,910 respectively. Metro areas can offer even higher earning potential. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro reports a median salary of $86,040, the highest among the listed metros, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA shows $70,590 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers $60,640. These differences highlight that workers open to specific cities or regions, especially in certain California metros, may find substantially higher pay levels within the same occupation.
Parking enforcement workers face a projected national employment growth rate of -1.5%, indicating a modest decline in overall employment levels. With national employment currently at 8,000, this is a relatively small occupation. Despite the negative growth projection, there are still about 1,000 annual openings. These openings suggest that ongoing replacement needs and turnover continue to create entry points into the field, even as total employment edges down. Job seekers should recognize that opportunities may be more limited in some areas and more concentrated in others, rather than widely distributed. The consistent -1.5% growth figure shown across top states and metros also suggests that the general trend of slightly declining employment is relatively uniform geographically. People considering this career may want to pay close attention to local hiring patterns and city or regional demand when planning their job search or relocation decisions.
Location plays a major role in opportunities for parking enforcement workers. Among states, California leads in overall opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $62,280 and employment of 1,710. Massachusetts (opportunity score 65.87) and New York (65.78) also rank highly, though their median salaries of $51,980 and $47,590 are lower than California’s. Washington combines the highest state-level median salary at $68,120 with a solid opportunity score of 56.29, while Colorado shows a more moderate salary of $47,910 and an opportunity score of 56.97. All top states share the same projected growth rate of -1.5%. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metros post the strongest opportunity scores, 77.42 and 77.27 respectively, with San Jose offering a median salary of $70,590. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro stands out for its $86,040 median salary. These metros show that some urban areas blend strong opportunity scores with higher pay, though employment levels range from 70 in San Jose to 970 in the New York metro.
Parking enforcement workers typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent. This relatively accessible education requirement can make the role a viable choice for people who want to start working without pursuing a college degree. While formal education requirements are limited, several skills stand out as important to success in this career. Customer service and interpersonal skills support everyday interactions with the public. Problem solving and decision making help workers respond to varied situations. Physical strength and stamina, along with fine motor skills, support the physical aspects of the job. Mechanical abilities, science knowledge, and comfort with computers and information technology can also be relevant. Adaptability and creativity and innovation indicate that workers benefit from being able to adjust to different conditions and think flexibly. Together, this combination of skills and the high school–level education requirement define the overall preparation profile for entering and progressing in this occupation.
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