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Law Enforcement / Security / Fire Average Salaries in United States 2024

How much money does a person working in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire make in United States?


Average Yearly Salary
77,400 USD
( 6,450 USD monthly)

LOW
28,200
USD
AVERAGE
77,400
USD
HIGH
148,000
USD
All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

A person working in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States typically earns around 77,400 USD. Salaries range from 28,200 USD (lowest average) to 148,000 USD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).


Salary Variance

The provided figure represents the median compensation that encompasses housing, transportation, and other perks. The salaries within the Law Enforcement / Security / Fire domain in United States exhibit significant discrepancies across various professions. In case you seek information about the remuneration of a specific position, please refer to the salaries listed below for respective job titles.

Salaries for specific jobs

Job TitleAverage Salary
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Accreditation Coordinator79,500 USD
Accreditation Manager116,000 USD
Advocate68,900 USD
Armed Security Officer69,500 USD
Behavioral Analyst95,100 USD
Body-Worn Camera Technician63,500 USD
Civilian Review Board Investigator80,500 USD
Company Guard33,400 USD
Control Room Operator31,400 USD
Correctional Officer51,700 USD
Crime Scene Reconstructionist81,600 USD
Criminal Investigator104,000 USD
Crisis Negotiator95,800 USD
Cyberbullying Investigator86,200 USD
Digital Forensic Analyst92,500 USD
E-crime Investigator105,000 USD
Facility Monitor61,800 USD
Fire Chief101,000 USD
Fire Dispatcher51,200 USD
Fire Education Specialist90,200 USD
Fire Extinguisher Technician31,600 USD
Fire Fighter55,000 USD
Fire Inspector102,000 USD
Fire Investigator94,800 USD
Fire Prevention Engineer90,300 USD
Fire Prevention Officer71,500 USD
Fire Protection Specialist87,900 USD
Forensic Artist63,000 USD
Forensic Entomologist69,800 USD
Forensic Investigator93,900 USD
Forensic Science Technician100,000 USD
Fraud and Forensic Specialist101,000 USD
Fraud Examiner107,000 USD
Grants Specialist126,000 USD
Hate Crime Investigator73,200 USD
Human Trafficking Investigator84,200 USD
Identity Theft Investigator81,700 USD
Intellectual Property Associate88,800 USD
Intelligence Research Specialist152,000 USD
Investigator101,000 USD
Jail Officer44,100 USD
Juvenile Probation Officer70,600 USD
Juvenile Supervision Officer72,600 USD
Licensing and Permitting Specialist90,700 USD
Lock-Smith30,100 USD
Open Source Intelligence Analyst93,800 USD
Parole Officer50,700 USD
Police Captain123,000 USD
Police Communications Officer74,700 USD
Police Officer55,600 USD
Police Patrol Officer51,600 USD
Police Social Worker57,000 USD
Predictive Analyst80,800 USD
Prison Officer44,200 USD
Prisoner Custody Officer35,900 USD
Private Detective / Investigator103,000 USD
Problem-Oriented Policing Specialist87,900 USD
School Resource Officer48,200 USD
Security Adviser96,100 USD
Security Guard28,300 USD
Security Management Specialist141,000 USD
Security Manager124,000 USD
Security Manager146,000 USD
Security Officer35,200 USD
Security Supervisor81,300 USD
Security Systems Installer78,500 USD
Security Technician31,700 USD
Social Media Investigator82,700 USD
Surveillance Operator39,100 USD
Tactical Analyst87,300 USD
Technological Crime Investigator97,200 USD
Traffic Controller57,500 USD


Law Enforcement / Security / Fire Jobs Pay Scale and Salaries in United States

Median and salary distribution United States Law Enforcement / Security / Fire yearly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
73,100 USD or more
10% of people earn
61,600 to 73,100 USD
20% of people earn
36,300 USD or less
65% of people earn
36,300 to 61,600 USD
Minimum Salary
28,200 USD
Median
67,200 USD
Maximum
148,000 USD




Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States range from 28,200 USD (starting average salary) to 148,000 USD (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). To clarify, the number presented is not the legally mandated minimum wage. Rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that involved thousands of participants and professionals from across the entire country.

  • Median Salary

    The median income in the field of Law Enforcement / Security / Fire is 67,200 USD, implying that half of the workforce in United States earns less than this figure, and the other half earns more. It represents the central value of salaries. As a rule of thumb, you would prefer to be part of the group earning above the median wage, situated on the right-hand side of the salary distribution chart.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    Two values that are highly correlated with the median are the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution diagram, it is possible to determine that 25% of individuals employed in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States earn less than 51,600 USD, while 75% of them earn more. Additionally, the diagram reveals that 75% of individuals earn less than 81,100 USD, while 25% earn more than that.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    Data was regrouped into brackets to provide a better understanding of what salaries can be expected. This approach was deemed more accurate than relying solely on the average salary, as it offers greater insights into the distribution of salaries in the field of Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States. The analysis revealed that roughly 65% of all reported salaries fell within the range of 36,300 USD to 61,600 USD. Approximately 20% of salaries were below the 36,300 USD mark, while 10% ranged from 61,600 USD to 73,100 USD. Only 5% of individuals earned a gross salary of 73,100 USD or higher.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage.

Generally speaking, employees in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.

Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.

As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.

Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.


Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.


Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

Salary Comparison By Education
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Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income?

We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degree levels across many jobs in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States, below are our findings.

Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.

Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.

Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.


Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?

A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in United States costs anywhere from 39,600 USD to 119,000 USD and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.

Employees can't expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming they already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.

Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.

The decision really depends on the situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if a person can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. Degree costs can be recovered roughly in a year or so.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Law Enforcement / Security / Fire / United States

Salary comparison by gender United States Law Enforcement / Security / Fire yearly
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In the field of Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5%.

Male
79,100 USD
Female-5%
75,500 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Comparison By Gender in United States for all Careers

Salary comparison by gender yearly United States
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Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Law Enforcement / Security / Fire / United States

How much are annual salary increments in United States for individuals working in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire? How often do employees get salary raises?

Professionals working in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 17 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate United States Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

United States / All Professions

Annual Salary Increment Rate United States
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The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in United States is 6%.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.

Bonus and Incentive Rates / Law Enforcement / Security / Fire / United States

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate United States Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
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75% of surveyed staff in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 25% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 1% to 2% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
25%
No Bonus
75%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.

Goal-Based Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.


What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting Cast

Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business.

Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations.

Example:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.

Hourly Average Wage / Law Enforcement / Security / Fire / United States


37 USD per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States is 37 USD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

The minimum pay rate per hour for people working in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States is 14 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Atlanta78,100 USD
Austin90,700 USD
Baltimore79,400 USD
Boston84,500 USD
Bristol65,600 USD
Chicago89,600 USD
Cincinnati66,200 USD
Cleveland68,500 USD
Dallas92,300 USD
Denver83,600 USD
Detroit84,400 USD
Honolulu65,400 USD
Houston96,200 USD
Indianapolis82,100 USD
Iowa City63,900 USD
Jacksonville88,800 USD
Kansas City75,500 USD
Kent64,600 USD
Las Vegas78,900 USD
Long Beach74,500 USD
Los Angeles93,700 USD
Memphis82,300 USD
Miami75,800 USD
Minneapolis68,900 USD
New Orleans72,000 USD
New York99,200 USD
Oakland73,000 USD
Oklahoma City77,700 USD
Orlando69,500 USD
Philadelphia91,100 USD
Phoenix89,700 USD
Sacramento76,800 USD
San Antonio93,800 USD
San Diego89,100 USD
San Francisco85,300 USD
San Jose87,600 USD
Seattle81,800 USD
Tampa71,800 USD
Vancouver65,000 USD
Washington D.C.84,600 USD

Salary Comparison By State

StateAverage Salary
Alabama82,800 USD
Alaska72,400 USD
Arizona86,200 USD
Arkansas79,800 USD
California91,200 USD
Colorado82,400 USD
Connecticut80,100 USD
Delaware74,500 USD
District of Columbia72,900 USD
Florida90,900 USD
Georgia89,300 USD
Hawaii76,400 USD
Idaho76,500 USD
Illinois90,400 USD
Indiana86,400 USD
Iowa80,000 USD
Kansas80,100 USD
Kentucky82,600 USD
Louisiana82,700 USD
Maine76,200 USD
Maryland86,100 USD
Massachusetts86,200 USD
Michigan89,600 USD
Minnesota84,700 USD
Mississippi79,800 USD
Missouri85,700 USD
Montana75,900 USD
Nebraska78,400 USD
Nevada80,100 USD
New Hampshire76,900 USD
New Jersey89,400 USD
New Mexico79,500 USD
New York92,900 USD
North Carolina81,900 USD
North Dakota66,900 USD
Ohio82,800 USD
Oklahoma75,400 USD
Oregon75,400 USD
Pennsylvania83,800 USD
Rhode Island68,800 USD
South Carolina77,200 USD
South Dakota68,900 USD
Tennessee80,400 USD
Texas85,800 USD
Utah72,900 USD
Vermont67,700 USD
Virginia82,200 USD
Washington81,600 USD
West Virginia72,500 USD
Wisconsin79,400 USD
Wyoming67,300 USD

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United States is 5% on average across all career fields.

Private Sector
92,800 USD
Public Sector+5%
97,500 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States?

A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 67,200 USD and 81,100 USD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary for jobs in Law Enforcement / Security / Fire in United States ranges from 28,200 USD to 51,600 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary


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