Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
District of Columbia employs 28,190 Protective Service professionals across 11 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Protective Service industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Protective Service in District of Columbia, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Protective Service industry in District of Columbia, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $160,760 | $148,110 | 2,980 | $77/hr |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $134,760 | $148,210 | 1,230 | $64/hr |
| 3 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $126,560 | $126,450 | 380 | $60/hr |
| 4 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $88,650 | $92,390 | 4,720 | $42/hr |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $83,710 | $83,880 | 710 | $40/hr |
| 6 | Firefighters | $75,870 | $79,550 | 1,480 | $36/hr |
| 7 | Private Detectives and Investigators | $72,720 | $88,260 | N/A | $34/hr |
| 8 | Security Guards | $64,210 | $60,720 | 15,880 | $30/hr |
| 9 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $60,400 | $58,460 | 290 | $29/hr |
| 10 | School Bus Monitors | $41,720 | $40,750 | N/A | $20/hr |
| 11 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $40,800 | $41,070 | 520 | $19/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across District of Columbia:
District of Columbia has 11 Protective Service occupations with 28,190 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Protective Service occupation in District of Columbia is Detectives and Criminal Investigators with a median salary of $160,760/year.
The average median salary across 11 Protective Service occupations in District of Columbia is $86,378/year.
Salaries in Protective Service in District of Columbia range from $36,400 (entry-level) to $195,190 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Protective Service occupations use SOC prefix 33. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 33* in District of Columbia. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources