by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 6 U.S. colleges awarded 42 degrees and certificates in Protective Services Operations. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 76% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing, rising to $53,914 after four years.
Studying Protective Services Operations covers Protective Services Operations. A Program Focusing On The Principles And Techniques Of Providing Physical Security Protection To Clients In Various Environments And Situations. Includes Instruction In Security Intelligence And Information Resources, Operations Planning And Surveying, Operations Security, Weapons And Explosives, Defense And Offense Techniques, Security And Surveillance Systems, Communications Systems, Perimeter And Access Control, Weapons Of Mass Destruction, Contingency Planning, Crowd Control, Cover And Evacuation, Combat And Vehicle Techniques, And Applicable Legal And Administrative Responsibilities. Examples: [Land Transportation Security], [Physical Security], [Protective Operations], [Vehicle/driver Operations], [Aircraft/boat Operations].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, protective services operations draws strong interest, with 42 degrees awarded annually. 6 colleges award protective services operations degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 22.
By level, the 42 awards include 4 certificates, 1 associate degrees and 32 master’s degrees.
Women earned 52% of protective services operations degrees and certificates in the latest year (22 of 42). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (20) and Hispanic or Latino (10), and international students earned 1.
The most common protective services operations credential is the master’s degree: 32 of the 42 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to protective services operations call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Law and Government, Public Safety and Security and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity and Inductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a protective services operations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 32 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to protective services operations, at 31.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 31.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.8% |
| Some college courses | 13.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.4% |
| Master’s degree | 3.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Protective Services Operations, with an average median salary of $64,622; the strongest outlook belongs to Emergency Management Directors, at 12.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Drug Enforcement Agent, Border Patrol Agent, Deputy Sheriff and School Resource Officer (SRO).
The occupation related to protective services operations with the most projected jobs is Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers, at 449,456.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 449,456 | 2.0% |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 421,320 | 11.8% |
| Emergency Management Directors | 390,880 | 12.5% |
| Customs and Border Protection Officers | 349,535 | -1.2% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
Protective Services Operations graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing their program, $53,914 after four years and $50,331 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,221 |
| 4 years | $53,914 |
| 5 years | $50,331 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to protective services operations is Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $91,449.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Emergency Management Directors | $72,305 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $71,252 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $52,907 |
| Customs and Border Protection Officers | $50,191 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $49,631 |
Protective Services Operations has 12 similar majors in the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field, which together award 100,455 degrees a year; the largest are Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (41,501), Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (26,299) and Criminal Justice/Police Science (20,024). Browse all Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,501 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 26,299 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,024 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,765 |
| Corrections | 3,838 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,370 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 679 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services | 497 |
| Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing | 310 |
| Corrections Administration | 87 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.