HSPS Salary and Career Info

Homeland Security and Public Safety - Career Paths

Those earning a degree in Homeland Security and Public Safety will be eligible for many different types of careers. Graduates of this program will be trained for careers in Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Criminal Justice fields. Career opportunities exist at the federal, state and local levels, as well as private sector organizations.

• Local & State: emergency response, detention facilities, public buildings and utilities, emergency management agency

• Federal: Department of Homeland Security, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Labor, Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection

• Private: Facility security, safety patrol, industrial security, cybersecurity

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Created in 2001 to coordinate homeland security activities between all government agencies and private organizations, the Department of Homeland Security has grown to one of the largest Federal agencies. By 2006, it already employed approximately 183,000 security professionals in Washington D.C. and across the country.

Specific Department of Homeland Security career opportunities for graduates include:

Citizenship and Immigration Services
Asylum Officer
Immigration Officer

Customs and Border Protection
Border Patrol Agent
Import Specialist
Detention and Removal Assistant

Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Detention and Deportation Officer
Immigration Enforcement Agent

Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate
Protective Security Advisor
Intelligence Operations Specialist
IT Specialist (information security)

Transportation and Security Administration
Intelligence Operations Specialist
Transportation Security Screener

U.S. Secret Service
Criminal Investigator

Work environment

Depending on the specific occupation, work environments can vary greatly. Homeland security professionals may work in an office setting, manufacturing environment, airport, or public utility while others are primarily mobile (such as border patrol). Work weeks are typically 40-hours in length, and there may be opportunities for over-time. Shifts may be rotating. Full-time employees typically receive a full benefits package. Public sector employees also typically receive a government pension at retirement.

Some people employed in a homeland security position will routinely engage in situations where their personal safety is threatened. In addition, professionals in this field are expected to be honest and ethical while on-duty and off, and are often looked at as role models within the community.

Career advancement

Homeland security and public safety positions typically have multiple levels of rank, and advancement is determined by level of education, length of experience, and on-the-job performance. As most positions are in the public sector, specific levels must be reached before advancement can occur; this may include a minimum exam score, number of years in the position, or a degree level.

Homeland Security and Public Safety - Salary Info

While incomes vary depending on experience, employer, and location, annual salary ranges reported for each occupation as of January 2009 are:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (positions located throughout the U.S.):

• Detention and Removal Assistant (Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau) - $29,726 to $47,864

• Intelligence Operations Specialist (Office of Intelligence & Analysis) - $77,670 to $132,049

• Investigative Assistant (Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau) - $29,726 to $47,864

• Operations Section Chief (Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)) - $86,715 to $133,209

• Emergency Management Program Specialist (Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)) - $45,040 to $84,913

Private Sector: (as of May 2007)

• Security Guard - The median was $24,840; the lowest 25% earned below $18,450 while the highest 25% earned above $28,900

• Detectives and criminal investigators - The median was $59,930; the lowest 25% earned below $45,180 while the highest 25% earned above $80,010

• Transportation Security Officer – $30,000 - $52,000

• Utility and Nuclear Security Officers - $50,000 - $70,000

*Information on careers and salaries is taken from the US Department of Labor–Bureau of Labor Statistics and the USAJOBS web site.