Protective Service: Schools and Careers

Protective Service - Career Information

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.