Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
South Carolina employs 53,710 Protective Service professionals across 18 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Protective Service industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Protective Service in South Carolina, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Protective Service industry in South Carolina, 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 Correctional Officers | $77,110 | $79,200 | 360 | $37/hr |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $73,700 | $81,260 | 1,560 | $35/hr |
| 3 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $65,160 | $70,880 | 1,450 | $31/hr |
| 4 | Transportation Security Screeners | $63,130 | $60,590 | 480 | $30/hr |
| 5 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $62,760 | $77,020 | 1,470 | $30/hr |
| 6 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $61,890 | $64,610 | 110 | $29/hr |
| 7 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,070 | $60,420 | 12,930 | $27/hr |
| 8 | Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,530 | $58,980 | 620 | $24/hr |
| 9 | Correctional Officers and Jailers | $47,890 | $51,520 | 4,870 | $23/hr |
| 10 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $47,100 | $52,800 | 770 | $22/hr |
| 11 | Parking Enforcement Workers | $43,040 | $43,220 | 120 | $20/hr |
| 12 | Firefighters | $42,570 | $43,900 | 7,780 | $20/hr |
| 13 | Animal Control Workers | $38,790 | $39,680 | 180 | $18/hr |
| 14 | Security Guards | $35,460 | $37,060 | 16,610 | $17/hr |
| 15 | Bailiffs | $34,280 | $38,690 | 270 | $16/hr |
| 16 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $32,690 | $39,460 | 1,050 | $15/hr |
| 17 | School Bus Monitors | $26,240 | $26,730 | 1,180 | $12/hr |
| 18 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $26,210 | $27,170 | 1,900 | $12/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across South Carolina:
South Carolina has 18 Protective Service occupations with 53,710 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Protective Service occupation in South Carolina is First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers with a median salary of $77,110/year.
The average median salary across 18 Protective Service occupations in South Carolina is $49,312/year.
Salaries in Protective Service in South Carolina range from $17,490 (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 South Carolina. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources