Public Service Careers & Salaries

Explore salary data for 8 careers in public service. The average median salary in this field is $53,316 per year, with 3,156,080 professionals employed nationwide.

Careers

Avg Median Salary

$53,316

Highest Paying

$78,740

Total Employed

3,156,080

All Public Service Careers Ranked by Salary

Career	Median Salary	Entry Level	Growth
#1 Occupational Health & Safety Specialist Bachelor's degree	$78,740	$50,000	+6%	Details →
#2 Police Officer High school diploma	$65,790	$42,000	+3%	Details →
#3 Probation Officer Bachelor's degree	$60,250	$40,000	+3%	Details →
#4 Firefighter Postsecondary nondegree award	$51,680	$32,000	+4%	Details →
#5 Correctional Officer High school diploma	$49,610	$35,000	-2%	Details →
#6 Dispatcher High school diploma	$46,780	$33,000	+6%	Details →
#7 EMT/Paramedic Postsecondary nondegree award	$38,930	$28,000	+7%	Details →
#8 Security Guard High school diploma	$34,750	$26,000	+3%	Details →

Explore Public Service Careers

Occupational Health & Safety Specialist

$78,740 median

OHS specialists analyze work environments and procedures to ensure compliance with safety regulations and prevent workplace injuries.

Bachelor's degree +6% growth

Police Officer

$65,790 median

Police officers protect communities by enforcing laws, responding to emergencies, investigating crimes, and maintaining public safety through patrol and community engagement.

High school diploma +3% growth

Probation Officer

$60,250 median

Probation officers monitor offenders on probation or parole, ensuring compliance with court-ordered conditions.

Bachelor's degree +3% growth

Firefighter

$51,680 median

Firefighters respond to fires, natural disasters, and medical emergencies. They rescue individuals, operate firefighting equipment, and conduct fire prevention inspections.

Postsecondary nondegree award +4% growth

Correctional Officer

$49,610 median

Correctional officers oversee inmates in jails and prisons, maintaining security and enforcing facility rules.

High school diploma -2% growth

Dispatcher

$46,780 median

Dispatchers coordinate emergency and non-emergency services, routing calls to appropriate responders and tracking response activities.

High school diploma +6% growth

EMT/Paramedic

$38,930 median

EMTs and paramedics respond to emergency calls, providing immediate medical care and patient transport.

Postsecondary nondegree award +7% growth

Security Guard

$34,750 median

Security guards patrol and protect property from theft, vandalism, and unauthorized entry, monitoring surveillance systems.

High school diploma +3% growth

About Public Service Careers

The public service field includes 8 careers tracked by StateSalaryData, employing 3,156,080 professionals across the United States. Salaries range from $34,750 (Security Guard) to $78,740 (Occupational Health & Safety Specialist). Browse individual career pages for state-by-state breakdowns, city-level data, and career comparisons.