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Protective Service Wages by State — 2024 Rankings (BLS Data)

Protective Service median wage by state — 2024 BLS OEWS data. Full 51-state ranking.

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Data current as of March 2026 Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024

DC pays the highest median wage for protective service workers at $73,270/year, while MS is the lowest at $37,170/year. The national median is approximately $52,714/year. Data source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

Top 5 Highest Paying States

  1. 1 DC $73,270
  2. 2 AK $69,220
  3. 3 WA $64,960
  4. 4 MA $63,690
  5. 5 RI $60,420

Bottom 5 Lowest Paying States

  1. 51 MS $37,170
  2. 50 KY $41,070
  3. 49 LA $43,070
  4. 48 AR $43,330
  5. 47 AL $43,660

National median: $52,714/year  ·  National mean hourly: /hr  ·  Wage gap (highest vs lowest): $36,100

Protective Service Median Annual Wage by State

Source: BLS OEWS 2024. Median annual wage. States sorted highest to lowest.

All States Ranked by Protective Service Wages (2024)

Rank State Med. Annual
1 DC $73,270
2 AK $69,220
3 WA $64,960
4 MA $63,690
5 RI $60,420
6 MN $60,060
7 NE $59,990
8 NH $59,970
9 WI $58,880
10 ND $58,570
11 MT $58,560
12 CT $58,140
13 OR $57,810
14 MD $57,780
15 CO $56,850
16 HI $56,600
17 NY $56,150
18 NJ $56,110
19 CA $55,500
20 IL $54,720
21 ID $53,860
22 OH $52,710
23 VT $52,460
24 DE $52,190
25 ME $52,150
26 MI $52,100
27 WY $51,850
28 IA $51,420
29 VA $51,150
30 AZ $50,940
31 UT $50,790
32 TX $50,440
33 SD $49,970
34 IN $49,800
35 NM $49,610
36 PA $47,840
37 KS $47,310
38 FL $47,260
39 NC $46,940
40 MO $46,700
41 TN $46,530
42 OK $46,190
43 WV $46,110
44 GA $45,870
45 SC $45,400
46 NV $45,260
47 AL $43,660
48 AR $43,330
49 LA $43,070
50 KY $41,070
51 MS $37,170

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Employment counts reflect total workers in this occupation group.

Swipe right for mean hourly rate and employment data.

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Wage Rankings by Occupation Group

Compare median wages across all 22 BLS major occupation groups:

Management Business and Financial Operations Computer and Mathematical Architecture and Engineering Life, Physical, and Social Science Community and Social Service Legal Educational Instruction and Library Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Healthcare Support Food Preparation and Serving Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Personal Care and Service Sales and Related Office and Administrative Support Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Construction and Extraction Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Production Transportation and Material Moving
Estimates only. These results are based on publicly available data and standard formulas. Actual costs may vary based on your specific circumstances. This calculator does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice on your situation.

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