Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Kentucky employs 43,260 Protective Service professionals across 20 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Protective Service industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Protective Service in Kentucky, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Protective Service industry in Kentucky, 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 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $80,390 | $88,030 | 1,600 | $38/hr |
| 2 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $71,670 | $86,900 | 720 | $34/hr |
| 3 | Transportation Security Screeners | $63,130 | $60,390 | 510 | $30/hr |
| 4 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $62,780 | $64,780 | 780 | $30/hr |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $60,850 | $67,280 | 1,250 | $29/hr |
| 6 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,490 | $59,840 | 7,890 | $29/hr |
| 7 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $55,970 | $56,800 | 100 | $26/hr |
| 8 | Fish and Game Wardens | $54,570 | $57,250 | 70 | $26/hr |
| 9 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $50,260 | $54,280 | 810 | $24/hr |
| 10 | Private Detectives and Investigators | $47,650 | $51,130 | 350 | $22/hr |
| 11 | Parking Enforcement Workers | $45,790 | $41,420 | 30 | $22/hr |
| 12 | Correctional Officers and Jailers | $42,310 | $44,870 | 6,770 | $20/hr |
| 13 | Firefighters | $37,150 | $42,100 | 5,150 | $17/hr |
| 14 | Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $36,330 | $36,240 | 90 | $17/hr |
| 15 | Security Guards | $35,420 | $38,540 | 13,580 | $17/hr |
| 16 | Animal Control Workers | $35,360 | $35,810 | 190 | $17/hr |
| 17 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $34,450 | $34,960 | 420 | $16/hr |
| 18 | Bailiffs | $30,760 | $34,570 | 760 | $14/hr |
| 19 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $28,520 | $27,610 | 1,820 | $13/hr |
| 20 | School Bus Monitors | $28,220 | $27,180 | 370 | $13/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across Kentucky:
Kentucky has 20 Protective Service occupations with 43,260 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Protective Service occupation in Kentucky is First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives with a median salary of $80,390/year.
The average median salary across 20 Protective Service occupations in Kentucky is $48,104/year.
Salaries in Protective Service in Kentucky range from $19,820 (entry-level) to $149,280 (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 Kentucky. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources