Law & Public Safety
This career area revolves around protecting the public, administering legal justice and maintaining public order and safety. You can be your version of a superhero by catching car thieves or standing up for victims from the prosecutors table in the court room. Careers span from Lawyers to Correctional Officers to Fish and Game Wardens.
- This area employs around 5,423,900 people, about 3.5% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 3.16%.
- The mean wage is about $30.70 an hour or $63,846 annually.
There Are 5 Main Areas Or Pathways To Consider –
Correction Services – Focuses on overseeing individuals who are awaiting trial, or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in a correctional institution like jail or prison.
Emergency and Fire Management Services – Focuses on rapid response to fires and other medical emergency situations inside communities.
Law Enforcement Services – Focuses on community policing by controlling traffic, preventing and investigating crimes, enforcing laws, and arresting suspected criminals.
Legal Services – Focuses on providing legal counsel and the upholding of the laws and regulations in a courtroom.
Security and Protective Services – Focuses on the private protection of people, property and buildings.
Industries Within Law & Public Safety –
Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support – Comprised of organizations who oversee and provide general government support and functions.
Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities – Comprised of organizations who provide public safety and public order with emergency response and legal matters. National Security and International Affairs – Comprised of organizations who provide national security and international programs and engagement.
Careers In Law & Public Safety –
| Job Title | Median Hourly Wage | Projected Growth By 2030 | Minimum Education Required | Average Years Of School & Training | Average Debt From School & Training |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $49.06 | 23.5% | Doctoral or Professional Degree | 7 – 8 Years | -$150,000 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants | $14.76 | 21.0% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Animal Control Workers | $19.56 | 4.3% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $36.75 | 12.6% | Bachelor’s Degree | 4 – 5 Years | -$25,000 |
| Bailiffs | $24.87 | -16.7% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $25.16 | -18.2% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $32.07 | 0.2% | Postsecondary Nondegree Award | 1 – 2 Years | -$15,000 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $42.93 | -2.9% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | $19.41 | 32.6% | Postsecondary Nondegree Award | 1 – 2 Years | -$15,000 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $32.54 | 16.4% | Postsecondary Nondegree Award | 1 – 2 Years | -$15,000 |
| Firefighters | $27.10 | 3.8% | Postsecondary Nondegree Award | 1 – 2 Years | -$15,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $32.50 | -9.8% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $39.99 | 5.8% | Postsecondary Nondegree Award | 1 – 2 Years | -$15,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $46.72 | -2.9% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $27.79 | 4.3% | Bachelor’s Degree | 4 – 5 Years | -$25,000 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $31.20 | 8.7% | Bachelor’s Degree | 4 – 5 Years | -$25,000 |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $25.06 | -6.5% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $19.19 | -7.8% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $63.39 | 15.6% | Doctoral or Professional Degree | 7 – 8 Years | -$150,000 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $30.70 | 10.5% | Doctoral or Professional Degree | 7 – 8 Years | -$150,000 |
| Lawyers | $71.59 | 7.7% | Doctoral or Professional Degree | 7 – 8 Years | -$150,000 |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $25.36 | -4.9% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Legal Support Workers | $35.25 | 0.2% | Associate’s Degree | 2 Years | -$15,000 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $13.00 | 10.7% | No Formal Educational Credential | None | None |
| Miscellaneous First-Line Supervisors, Protective Service Workers | $26.54 | -4.8% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $27.22 | 21.6% | Associate’s Degree | 2 Years | -$15,000 |
| Parking Enforcement Workers | $21.57 | 12.9% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $33.65 | 9.9% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $28.89 | -8.6% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $29.76 | 5.9% | Bachelor’s Degree | 4 – 5 Years | -$25,000 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicators | $22.02 | 3.8% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| School Bus Monitors and Protective Service Workers | $17.38 | -21.0% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Security Guards | $16.52 | -12.2% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $34.13 | -8.2% | High School Diploma or Equivalent | None | None |
Resources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, https://www.bls.gov/oes/2020/may/oes_nat.htm.” Accessed December 13, 2021.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Projections and Worker Characteristics, www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm.” Accessed December 13, 2021.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh” Accessed December 13, 2021.
