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.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Protective service workers, all other, form a broad category of security and safety roles with a national median salary of $41,600 and employment of 84,000 workers. The field shows projected employment growth of 2.5%, with about 23,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing movement and replacement needs in the workforce. This occupation can appeal to people who want to work directly with the public while helping maintain order and safety. The top skills highlight a mix of people-focused and practical abilities, including customer service, interpersonal skills, attention to detail, leadership, adaptability, and physical strength and stamina. Additional skills such as computers and information technology, mechanical aptitude, science, and creativity and innovation suggest that jobs in this category can draw on both hands-on and problem-solving strengths. With a typical entry point at a high school diploma or equivalent, this path can be accessible to new graduates and career changers who are ready to build experience on the job.
The national median annual salary for protective service workers, all other, is $41,600, but pay can vary meaningfully by location. Among top states, New York and Massachusetts stand out with higher median salaries of $52,690 and $50,040, respectively. Colorado and Washington are closer to the national figure at $44,340 and $42,170, while California’s median salary of $39,330 is slightly lower despite its large employment base. At the metro level, earnings are often higher. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area shows a median salary of $58,780, and the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro reports $57,920. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a median of $56,240, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton reports $52,170. These figures suggest that some major metro areas offer higher earning potential than the national median, while still drawing on the same core protective service skill set.
Protective service workers, all other, have national employment of 84,000 and a projected employment growth rate of 2.5%. This same 2.5% projected growth is reflected in key states and metro areas, including California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, and the highlighted large metropolitan regions. The occupation is expected to see about 23,000 annual openings, which indicates a combination of new positions and replacement needs as workers change roles or retire. For job seekers, this mix of steady projected growth and a relatively high number of annual openings can translate into ongoing opportunities to enter or advance within the field. People considering related paths such as security guards, occupational therapy aides, home health and personal care aides, dental assistants, or healthcare support workers, all other, can use these figures to compare overall employment scale and projected momentum across different types of helping and service occupations.
Location can significantly shape opportunities for protective service workers, all other. Among states, California has by far the largest employment at 26,360, combined with an opportunity score of 67.38 and a median salary of $39,330. In contrast, Massachusetts and New York have much smaller employment levels—610 and 1,930 workers—but higher median salaries of $50,040 and $52,690 and similar opportunity scores around 66. Colorado and Washington offer mid-range salaries of $44,340 and $42,170, with opportunity scores just under 57 and employment around 4,500 in each state. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara and New York-Newark-Jersey City stand out with the highest opportunity scores (77.42 and 77.27) and median salaries above $56,000. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro shows the highest listed median salary at $58,780. These differences allow job seekers to weigh higher opportunity scores and pay against total job counts in each area.
The typical education for protective service workers, all other, is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this career accessible to individuals who are completing secondary education or changing paths without a college degree. Success in these roles relies heavily on a balanced skill profile. Customer service and interpersonal skills are central, reflecting frequent interaction with the public and coworkers. Being detail oriented and having leadership ability support tasks that require careful attention and coordination. Adaptability, creativity, and innovation suggest that workers may need to respond to varied situations and think of new approaches within their duties. Physical strength and stamina are important for the more active aspects of the work. Skills in science, computers and information technology, and mechanical areas indicate that those comfortable with both technology and hands-on problem solving may find additional ways to contribute and progress within this occupation.
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