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Homeland Security Careers

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Read more... The Boom in Homeland-Security and Emergency-Management Majors

Since 2001, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has coordinated security activities across federal, state, and local levels of government as well as the private and nonprofit sectors. The major homeland security concerns are:

  • Managing response and recovery efforts in a variety of emergency situations
  • Protecting infrastructure, such as communications, utilities, and financial institutions
  • Gathering and analyzing intelligence
  • Enforcing laws and maintaining order in times of crisis
  • Continuing the operations of private businesses
  • Maintaining security in public places
  • Conducting scientific research to protect public health

Homeland Security offers a wide range of career opportunities

There are many homeland security careers across a wide range of skills and roles. Workers that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security employs include:

  • Air Marshals
  • Coast Guards
  • Border Patrol Agents
  • Law Enforcement Personnel
  • Scientists
  • Computer Security Specialists

Local Homeland Security Workers

These are just a few examples of possible homeland security careers. In emergency situations, the Department of Homeland Security coordinates the Red Cross and other nonprofit organizations. At the local level, workers who are trained to be ready to respond to a major incident include:

  • Police and Firefighters
  • Emergency Response Managers from local government
  • Public Policy Officials
  • Doctors
  • Healthcare Providers

Salaries for Homeland Security Careers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average salaries in Homeland Security match the wide range of careers, with your actual salary being dependent on the job you have.

Federal government jobs pay anywhere from $17,000 (entry-level) to $120,000 (top-level management) per year. Average salaries (2007) for fulltime federal workers in Homeland Security careers included:

  • Criminal Investigating: $88,174
  • Border Patrol Agent: $63,550
  • Customs and border protection: $59,248
  • Fire protection and prevention: $43,407
  • Police: $42,150

Employment Outlook for Homeland Security Careers

On the whole, the employment outlook for homeland security careers is positive. In the fields of computer security and emergency management, for instance, the employment opportunities are expected to grow faster than the overall average of occupations. Also, the number of positions becoming available in the federal government will increase significantly in the coming years since there will be a large number of the government's workforce retiring.

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Source: "Careers in Homeland Security: Many jobs, one mission." Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Summer 2006.