Legal and protective service careers: pay and entry routes
This field spans the widest qualification range of any group: security guards can start with a short course, police officers go through academy training, paralegals typically hold a certificate or associate degree, and lawyers need a doctorate and the bar exam.
The list below ranks every legal and protective service occupation by median annual pay.
- Occupations
- 36
- Pay range
- $33,580–$159,670
- Top median
- $159,670
Legal and protective services occupations, ranked by median pay
Median annual wage, national, BLS May 2025.
LawyersExtensive preparation needed · 754,500 employed$159,670median / yrJudges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesExtensive preparation needed · 24,030 employed$153,990median / yrAdministrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersExtensive preparation needed · 16,370 employed$117,860median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesLittle to some preparation needed · 154,610 employed$106,040median / yrDetectives and Criminal InvestigatorsMedium preparation needed · 114,430 employed$93,790median / yrPolice Identification and Records OfficersMedium preparation needed · 114,430 employed$93,790median / yrIntelligence AnalystsConsiderable preparation needed · 114,430 employed$93,790median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersMedium preparation needed · 99,140 employed$93,530median / yrTransit and Railroad PoliceMedium preparation needed · 4,390 employed$90,230median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersMedium preparation needed · 53,380 employed$77,970median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All OtherPreparation level not rated · 20,690 employed$76,400median / yrPolice and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersMedium preparation needed · 670,520 employed$76,210median / yrCustoms and Border Protection OfficersMedium preparation needed · 670,520 employed$76,210median / yrFire Inspectors and InvestigatorsMedium preparation needed · 13,800 employed$75,920median / yrArbitrators, Mediators, and ConciliatorsExtensive preparation needed · 9,210 employed$75,530median / yrFish and Game WardensMedium preparation needed · 5,770 employed$74,060median / yrLegal Support Workers, All OtherPreparation level not rated · 46,760 employed$72,110median / yrTransportation Security ScreenersLittle to some preparation needed · 50,290 employed$66,770median / yrJudicial Law ClerksExtensive preparation needed · 13,290 employed$64,920median / yrParalegals and Legal AssistantsMedium preparation needed · 392,880 employed$62,890median / yrFirefightersLittle to some preparation needed · 345,990 employed$59,280median / yrCorrectional Officers and JailersLittle to some preparation needed · 380,500 employed$58,940median / yrTitle Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersLittle to some preparation needed · 48,580 employed$58,650median / yrForest Fire Inspectors and Prevention SpecialistsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 2,780 employed$56,870median / yrBailiffsMedium preparation needed · 17,310 employed$56,600median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersLittle to some preparation needed · 81,480 employed$55,940median / yrPrivate Detectives and InvestigatorsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 35,580 employed$51,220median / yrParking Enforcement WorkersLittle to some preparation needed · 9,050 employed$46,730median / yrAnimal Control WorkersLittle to some preparation needed · 12,070 employed$45,660median / yrGambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling InvestigatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 9,520 employed$43,370median / yrProtective Service Workers, All OtherPreparation level not rated · 81,500 employed$42,540median / yrRetail Loss Prevention SpecialistsLittle to some preparation needed · 81,500 employed$42,540median / yrCrossing Guards and FlaggersLittle to some preparation needed · 94,360 employed$38,100median / yrSecurity GuardsGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 1,283,470 employed$38,020median / yrSchool Bus MonitorsLittle to some preparation needed · 78,420 employed$35,100median / yrLifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 157,550 employed$33,580median / yr
Fastest growing legal and protective services occupations
Projected employment growth, 2024–34.