City Town Info

Protective Service: Schools and Careers

Protective Service - Career Information

Protective Service picture    Protective Service image

Occupations in Protective Service vary greatly and are mainly focused on safety and security - from protecting the public against various types of dangers to fire fighting to emergency response to enforcing safety rules and regulations to crime investigations to private detective work, and much more. Individuals will find a variety of Protective Service jobs in both public and private sectors. Examples of the many types of professions include, but are not limited to:

  • Fire Fighters: only two types, 1) forest Fire Fighters focused on forests and rangelands, and 2) city Fire Fighters focused on all other types of fires
  • Probation Officers
  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators
  • Transit and Railroad Police
  • Security Guards and Gaming Surveillance Officers
  • Police and Sheriffs Patrol Officers
  • Correctional Officers and Jailers
  • Prison Guards
  • Supervisors of Officers, Sheriffs, Guards, etc. (ranks vary and include, but are not limited to sergeant, deputy, lieutenant, captain, and chief)

While each profession has its own specific set of characteristics, skills, abilities, and requirements, some of the more commonly shared include, but are not limited to:

  • working 40 hours/week that can include overtime, weekends, and evenings
  • working both indoors and out (with exposure to heat and cold conditions)
  • interacting and communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates throughout a shift
  • for the most part, working as part of a team but with the ability to work alone
  • often wearing protective and safety attire/gear (although many detectives are "plainclothes investigators")
  • making decisions, resolve issues, and negotiate (as appropriate)
  • communicating with individuals from within and outside their organization
  • working with the public, and at times, in conflict situations
  • being highly responsible and trustworthy
  • possessing knowledge of law, government, and jurisprudence
  • possessing knowledge of protecting people, property, and data

Career Education

For the most part, individuals entering a career in Protective Service must:

  • Possess a high school diploma or GED. Note that some occupations (e.g., Probation Officer or Supervisor-level roles) require applicants to possess at least a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, social work, public administration, or a related field. Many universities and technical colleges offer formal degree programs in criminal justice. Studies in these programs include criminology, criminal procedure, justice, and communication and management skills.
  • Complete specialized training programs (as applicable to the occupation).
  • Pass a medical exam and drug-screening test.

Special training programs, again depending on the type of occupation, are available and can take anywhere from a few months up to five years to complete. Some fire departments, police departments, and academies offer apprenticeship and special training programs.

While on-the-job training is available for a variety of occupations (e.g., Probation Officer, Police and Detective Supervisors), they also generally require a minimum of three or four years' work-related experience as a prerequisite and can take anywhere from a few to several months to complete. Note that requirements for specific occupations vary by state.

Recognized certification programs and examinations are available. They enhance one's knowledge in a specific occupation or discipline and afford better career opportunities. Requirements vary by state.

Schools for Protective Service are listed in the column to the left.

Careers and Salary Data

This table shows summary data on occupations in the US. Clicking on any occupation name brings you to a page showing job prospects and salaries for that occupation in hundreds of metro areas across the country, with data updated through 2008.(Where data is denoted by an asterisk (*), summary info was not available.

The green bars in the table below indicate the relative salary levels and growth rates of each occupation, compared to the others. The levels are determined by sorting the occupations (by salary or growth rate, separately) and then dividing them into ten groups corresponding to the the ten possible green bar levels. So a single bar means the occupation is in the bottom 10% for that characteristic compared to others on this page.

Click each Occupation title for more details.


Protective Service

Occupation Jobs Median Pay % Growth
2006-2016
Video
Correctional Officers and Jailers 428,040     $38,380     16.9%
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 104,480     $60,910     17.3%
Fire Fighters 298,900     $44,260     12.1%
Fire Inspectors and Investigators 12,920     $53,030     11.0%
Police and Sheriffs Patrol Officers 633,710     $51,410     10.8%
Private Detectives and Investigators 35,820     $41,760     18.2%
Probation Officers 97,130     $45,910     10.9%
Supervisors Of Correctional Officers 40,840     $57,380     12.5%  
Supervisors Of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers 53,300     $67,440     11.5%  
Supervisors Of Police and Detectives 92,840     $75,490     9.2%

Selected Schools for Protective Service (including any online schools)

These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).

Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.

Matching School Ads
School
Locations
Degrees
Quick Info
Online 
Associate 
Online 
Bachelor 
Online 
Master 
Online 
Bachelor 
Online 
Bachelor 
CA 
Bachelor 
Online 
Bachelor,
Master,
Associate 
Matching School Ads

Protective Service Schools by State

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Protective Service.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.

Copyright © 2005 - QuinStreet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Click to verify BBB accreditation and to see a BBB report. TRUSTe online privacy certification