Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
South Dakota employs 7,320 Protective Service professionals across 17 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Protective Service industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Protective Service in South Dakota, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Protective Service industry in South Dakota, 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 | $87,810 | $97,350 | 190 | $42/hr |
| 2 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $77,730 | $91,060 | 250 | $37/hr |
| 3 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $77,400 | $76,600 | 80 | $37/hr |
| 4 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $72,420 | $81,140 | 120 | $34/hr |
| 5 | Fish and Game Wardens | $68,810 | $67,080 | 100 | $33/hr |
| 6 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,740 | $64,320 | 2,000 | $29/hr |
| 7 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $57,880 | $61,530 | 80 | $27/hr |
| 8 | Transportation Security Screeners | $55,530 | $56,310 | 60 | $26/hr |
| 9 | Correctional Officers and Jailers | $53,040 | $53,260 | 1,490 | $25/hr |
| 10 | Firefighters | $48,160 | $51,180 | 610 | $23/hr |
| 11 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $46,940 | $42,400 | 60 | $22/hr |
| 12 | Animal Control Workers | $45,530 | $43,630 | 50 | $21/hr |
| 13 | Private Detectives and Investigators | $44,840 | $44,210 | 60 | $21/hr |
| 14 | Security Guards | $37,150 | $40,250 | 1,460 | $17/hr |
| 15 | School Bus Monitors | $34,380 | $34,330 | 140 | $16/hr |
| 16 | Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $33,820 | $37,940 | 80 | $16/hr |
| 17 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $30,990 | $31,370 | 490 | $14/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across South Dakota:
South Dakota has 17 Protective Service occupations with 7,320 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Protective Service occupation in South Dakota is First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives with a median salary of $87,810/year.
The average median salary across 17 Protective Service occupations in South Dakota is $54,892/year.
Salaries in Protective Service in South Dakota range from $26,760 (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 Dakota. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources