Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Virginia employs 108,940 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 Virginia, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Protective Service industry in Virginia, 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 | $112,760 | $119,620 | 3,180 | $54/hr |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $101,230 | $112,200 | 3,750 | $48/hr |
| 3 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $97,780 | $93,750 | 3,300 | $47/hr |
| 4 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $70,460 | $71,060 | 100 | $33/hr |
| 5 | Transportation Security Screeners | $69,910 | $65,010 | 1,870 | $33/hr |
| 6 | Fish and Game Wardens | $66,540 | $68,110 | 180 | $31/hr |
| 7 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,870 | $70,450 | 19,970 | $31/hr |
| 8 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $64,190 | $72,230 | 2,230 | $30/hr |
| 9 | Bailiffs | $62,290 | $62,490 | 320 | $29/hr |
| 10 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $60,790 | $67,420 | 2,120 | $29/hr |
| 11 | Firefighters | $58,670 | $58,240 | 11,160 | $28/hr |
| 12 | Private Detectives and Investigators | $56,160 | $61,940 | 1,280 | $27/hr |
| 13 | Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,140 | $54,450 | 11,270 | $24/hr |
| 14 | Animal Control Workers | $49,010 | $49,570 | 430 | $23/hr |
| 15 | Parking Enforcement Workers | $46,840 | $48,010 | 130 | $22/hr |
| 16 | Security Guards | $43,640 | $47,070 | 34,870 | $20/hr |
| 17 | Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $41,980 | $45,630 | N/A | $20/hr |
| 18 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $37,560 | $38,570 | 1,940 | $18/hr |
| 19 | School Bus Monitors | $36,510 | $36,690 | 1,920 | $17/hr |
| 20 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $30,070 | $31,700 | 8,920 | $14/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across Virginia:
Virginia has 20 Protective Service occupations with 108,940 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Protective Service occupation in Virginia is Detectives and Criminal Investigators with a median salary of $112,760/year.
The average median salary across 20 Protective Service occupations in Virginia is $61,120/year.
Salaries in Protective Service in Virginia range from $26,790 (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 Virginia. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources