Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Protective service workers, all other (SOC 33-9099) employed 81,500 people in May 2025. The median pay is $42,540 a year ($20.45 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $32,470 and the highest-paid 10% more than $74,590. BLS projects its employment to change by +3.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 22,600 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: New Hampshire ($88,960), District of Columbia ($88,570), Alabama ($86,350). Most jobs: California (26,360), Pennsylvania (5,720), Colorado (4,640).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,470 | $15.61 |
| 25th percentile | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| Median | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| Mean | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| 75th percentile | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $74,590 | $35.86 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 82,100 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 84,600 |
| Change in jobs | 2,400 |
| Percent change | +3.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 22,600 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 330 | 0.30 | $86,350 | $31,500 | $104,000 | +103% | 15% |
| Alaska | 400 | 2.35 | $56,120 | $38,210 | $76,000 | +32% | 31% |
| Arizona | 970 | 0.57 | $49,090 | $44,480 | $76,190 | +15% | 41% |
| Arkansas | 560 | 0.82 | $31,270 | $28,090 | $54,600 | -26% | 38% |
| California | 26,360 | 2.76 | $39,330 | $34,320 | $72,430 | -8% | 64% |
| Colorado | 4,640 | 3.08 | $44,340 | $36,640 | $68,230 | +4% | 49% |
| Connecticut | 910 | 1.03 | $37,480 | $34,010 | $83,860 | -12% | 50% |
| Delaware | 130 | 0.52 | $39,520 | $34,530 | $55,470 | -7% | 46% |
| District of Columbia | 80 | 0.21 | $88,570 | $58,520 | $110,680 | +108% | 26% |
| Florida | 2,790 | 0.54 | $44,310 | $34,430 | $72,090 | +4% | 49% |
| Georgia | 1,260 | 0.49 | $45,200 | $23,470 | $80,030 | +6% | 40% |
| Hawaii | 110 | 0.32 | $57,370 | $40,240 | $132,790 | +35% | 41% |
| Idaho | 170 | 0.38 | $46,580 | $38,800 | $66,940 | +9% | 36% |
| Illinois | 600 | 0.19 | $38,020 | $34,620 | $82,170 | -11% | 42% |
| Indiana | 240 | 0.14 | $47,930 | $28,380 | $57,970 | +13% | 28% |
| Kansas | 300 | 0.40 | $42,150 | $27,410 | $63,840 | -1% | 31% |
| Kentucky | 540 | 0.51 | $46,580 | $30,330 | $69,210 | +9% | 26% |
| Louisiana | 2,370 | 2.34 | $44,410 | $27,940 | $64,170 | +4% | 29% |
| Maine | 170 | 0.50 | $49,940 | $37,440 | $68,990 | +17% | 29% |
| Maryland | 930 | 0.64 | $52,780 | $31,200 | $88,570 | +24% | 39% |
| Massachusetts | 610 | 0.32 | $50,040 | $33,680 | $79,150 | +18% | 44% |
| Michigan | 730 | 0.31 | $49,730 | $34,120 | $70,260 | +17% | 28% |
| Minnesota | 670 | 0.43 | $38,330 | $32,610 | $73,140 | -10% | 40% |
| Mississippi | 180 | 0.29 | $49,800 | $27,060 | $67,200 | +17% | 24% |
| Missouri | 240 | 0.16 | $49,290 | $35,010 | $75,190 | +16% | 26% |
| Montana | 310 | 1.17 | $41,660 | $27,330 | $75,280 | -2% | 34% |
| Nebraska | 80 | 0.15 | $47,090 | $36,560 | $103,280 | +11% | 28% |
| Nevada | 910 | 1.12 | $54,790 | $34,500 | $78,520 | +29% | 37% |
| New Hampshire | 90 | 0.25 | $88,960 | $56,770 | $101,380 | +109% | 21% |
| New Jersey | 3,520 | 1.57 | $54,950 | $33,280 | $80,330 | +29% | 39% |
| New Mexico | 650 | 1.42 | $64,940 | $34,480 | $126,050 | +53% | 21% |
| New York | 1,930 | 0.38 | $52,690 | $37,900 | $92,890 | +24% | 37% |
| North Carolina | 790 | 0.30 | $43,740 | $35,800 | $72,170 | +3% | 37% |
| North Dakota | 230 | 1.04 | $53,460 | $37,460 | $76,010 | +26% | 22% |
| Ohio | 1,520 | 0.52 | $44,890 | $33,810 | $65,940 | +6% | 29% |
| Oklahoma | 150 | 0.16 | $52,360 | $31,460 | $77,330 | +23% | 24% |
| Oregon | 2,180 | 2.11 | $49,520 | $38,210 | $73,530 | +16% | 39% |
| Pennsylvania | 5,720 | 1.80 | $34,320 | $24,320 | $54,620 | -19% | 44% |
| Rhode Island | 60 | 0.23 | $54,630 | $38,590 | $93,260 | +28% | 31% |
| South Carolina | 320 | 0.27 | $44,130 | $28,360 | $63,760 | +4% | 35% |
| South Dakota | 130 | 0.54 | $42,260 | $35,380 | $65,170 | -1% | 28% |
| Tennessee | 830 | 0.48 | $44,100 | $33,170 | $77,340 | +4% | 35% |
| Texas | 4,360 | 0.59 | $33,500 | $25,570 | $64,920 | -21% | 53% |
| Utah | 910 | 1.00 | $49,610 | $36,490 | $133,810 | +17% | 39% |
| Vermont | 60 | 0.39 | $57,490 | $29,140 | $82,180 | +35% | 28% |
| Virginia | 4,000 | 1.86 | $35,230 | $27,120 | $79,250 | -17% | 56% |
| Washington | 4,530 | 2.43 | $42,170 | $34,650 | $59,210 | -1% | 52% |
| West Virginia | 170 | 0.45 | $43,700 | $29,560 | $90,900 | +3% | 24% |
| Wisconsin | 910 | 0.59 | $57,620 | $32,810 | $83,430 | +35% | 24% |
| Wyoming | 590 | 3.99 | $40,330 | $33,060 | $68,680 | -5% | 30% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,350 | $58,780 | $30,800 | $166,390 | 0.82 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,880 | $57,920 | $37,180 | $84,090 | 0.78 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 990 | $56,240 | $40,020 | $76,490 | 1.66 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 390 | $55,590 | $32,810 | $133,810 | 0.91 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 340 | $55,370 | $34,480 | $128,490 | 1.63 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 410 | $52,780 | $31,200 | $72,680 | 0.57 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 900 | $52,190 | $36,550 | $77,000 | 0.61 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 420 | $52,170 | $35,050 | $79,150 | 0.30 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 600 | $51,770 | $47,320 | $76,190 | 0.49 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 680 | $50,930 | $34,230 | $76,340 | 1.15 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 310 | $49,570 | $24,910 | $83,430 | 0.72 |
| Boulder, CO | 300 | $47,040 | $40,130 | $78,760 | 2.94 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 790 | $46,760 | $35,240 | $75,270 | 4.63 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 300 | $46,320 | $30,400 | $77,550 | 0.45 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 790 | $45,950 | $30,780 | $88,980 | 0.52 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,050 | $45,770 | $40,340 | $66,060 | 1.66 |
| Cleveland, OH | 560 | $45,050 | $35,580 | $62,390 | 1.04 |
| Modesto, CA | 410 | $44,990 | $36,630 | $58,170 | 4.01 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,820 | $44,490 | $36,020 | $76,760 | 2.26 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,570 | $44,270 | $35,050 | $74,750 | 3.19 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 490 | $43,950 | $33,860 | $73,140 | 0.48 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2,550 | $43,720 | $36,670 | $64,560 | 3.03 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 630 | $43,480 | $27,930 | $79,830 | 2.70 |
| Visalia, CA | 450 | $43,090 | $34,840 | $56,000 | 5.02 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 2,400 | $43,050 | $34,320 | $56,090 | 2.66 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 420 | $42,690 | $37,280 | $71,120 | 4.78 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,750 | $42,170 | $34,650 | $60,380 | 2.51 |
| Merced, CA | 390 | $38,740 | $34,650 | $50,480 | 9.44 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 400 | $38,450 | $28,810 | $56,720 | 2.04 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 790 | $38,330 | $34,740 | $59,340 | 1.06 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 540 | $38,020 | $34,620 | $82,170 | 0.23 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 350 | $38,010 | $34,320 | $53,950 | 2.00 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 860 | $37,530 | $34,710 | $53,180 | 5.64 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 330 | $37,400 | $34,010 | $81,670 | 1.04 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,160 | $37,290 | $34,320 | $71,130 | 2.79 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 620 | $37,200 | $33,990 | $61,330 | 3.73 |
| Salinas, CA | 350 | $37,050 | $34,590 | $52,590 | 3.62 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 960 | $36,080 | $24,320 | $53,900 | 1.64 |
| Fresno, CA | 680 | $35,570 | $34,320 | $48,980 | 2.73 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,760 | $35,060 | $21,750 | $65,520 | 1.82 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 430 | $34,940 | $26,380 | $58,320 | 1.08 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,080 | $34,610 | $27,910 | $67,030 | 0.51 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 880 | $33,500 | $27,090 | $47,180 | 0.51 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,200 | $32,470 | $28,130 | $42,760 | 2.03 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 520 | $28,260 | $21,840 | $40,900 | 1.45 |
The median is $42,540 a year ($20.45 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $32,470 and the highest-paid tenth over $74,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
81,500 in May 2025, and BLS projects +3.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
New Hampshire, with a median of $88,960 (among states with published figures).