Becoming a Homeland Security Specialist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering homeland security courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
homeland security specialists,
police officers,
security technicians,
security officers,
security agents,
homeland security workers,
police patrol officers, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 1,028,830 people employed as
security guards alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$26,430.
Firstline supervisors/managers of police and detectives make on average $78,580
per year and there are about 99,900
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Homeland Security Specialist
- airports
- home building associations
- transport company
- ports
- supermarket
- religious organizations
- court
- stadium
- law enforcement agency
- universities
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Homeland Security Specialist
- job security
- security clearance possibility
- full time positions with full benefits
- government offers
- security specialist benefits
- job satisfaction
- pension
- can count other federal service to increase pay
- protect your country
- well respected
Potential Drawbacks
- be exposed to serious danger
- work long hours
- be away from family
- go through a lot of schooling
- go through an extensive background check
- getting promoted can be political
- lots of rules and regulations to follow
- limited work locations
- can't talk about your work with friends and family
- makes foreign travel difficult
Related Professions to Consider
- Transportation Security Officer (TSO)
- Federal Security Director
- Supervisory Transportation Security Specialist
- Assistant Federal Security Director
- Transportation Security Manager
- Mission Support Specialist
- Administrative Assistant
- Engineering Equipment Operator
- Admissions Support Assistant
- Equipment Specialist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Homeland Security Specialist
- What are your success and failures?
- Does computer competency include related skills?
- Think about a time when you were given an inappropriate work assignment. What didn't they consider when assigning you the work and why was it inappropriate?
- Have you given any suggestions to your current company to improve a specific operation or function?
- What is the best job you have ever had?
- How would you help a firm that wants to improve its campus hiring efforts?
- How do you deal with stressful situations?
- What were your motivations for applying for this position?
- What potentials do you feel you have which are presently untapped in your current job?
- What training and certifications do you have?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Homeland Security Support Specialist
- Border Patrol Agents
- Homeland Security - Experienced specialist
- Business Intelligence and Corporate Espionage Expert
- Portfolio Management Specialist
- Web Development Specialist
- IT Specialist
- Terrorism and Homeland Security Consultant
- Information Technology Specialist
- Police Officer
Homeland Security Specialist Training books
Homeland Security Specialist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- corrections
- court reporting
- crime scene investigation
- criminal justice
- economic crime
- homeland security
- justice administration
- legal studies
- law enforcement
- public safety
Homeland Security Specialist Salary Information
Category: Firstline supervisors/managers of police and detectives
| Total # Employed in the US |
99,900 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$37.78/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $22.49 |
$29.05 |
$36.78 |
$45.46 |
$55.93 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$78,580 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $46,780 |
$60,420 |
$76,500 |
$94,560 |
$116,340 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.9% |
14.6% |
30.7% |
15.5% |
28.9% |
8.1% |
1.3% |
|
Firstline supervisors/managers of police and detectives — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$57.69/hr
|
$120,000
|
| North Dakota |
$51.79/hr
|
$107,730
|
| Florida |
$46.66/hr
|
$97,050
|
| New York |
$45.99/hr
|
$95,650
|
| Kansas |
$44.04/hr
|
$91,590
|
| Oklahoma |
$42.76/hr
|
$88,940
|
| Connecticut |
$41.19/hr
|
$85,670
|
| District of Columbia |
$41.03/hr
|
$85,350
|
| Alaska |
$39.58/hr
|
$82,330
|
| Arkansas |
$39.05/hr
|
$81,230
|
| Mississippi |
$38.81/hr
|
$80,710
|
| Missouri |
$38.58/hr
|
$80,240
|
| Indiana |
$38.54/hr
|
$80,160
|
| Delaware |
$38.31/hr
|
$79,680
|
| Tennessee |
$37.88/hr
|
$78,790
|
| Utah |
$36.44/hr
|
$75,800
|
| Hawaii |
$36.22/hr
|
$75,340
|
| Nebraska |
$36.16/hr
|
$75,210
|
| Wyoming |
$35.32/hr
|
$73,470
|
| Montana |
$34.57/hr
|
$71,900
|
| South Carolina |
$34.4/hr
|
$71,550
|
| North Carolina |
$33.86/hr
|
$70,420
|
| Puerto Rico |
$33.3/hr
|
$69,260
|
| Virginia |
$33.26/hr
|
$69,170
|
| Louisiana |
$33.04/hr
|
$68,720
|
| Guam |
$32.91/hr
|
$68,460
|
| New Hampshire |
$32.8/hr
|
$68,220
|
| Pennsylvania |
$32.04/hr
|
$66,640
|
| Ohio |
$31.71/hr
|
$65,960
|
| New Jersey |
$31.21/hr
|
$64,920
|
| Iowa |
$30.9/hr
|
$64,280
|
| New Mexico |
$30.61/hr
|
$63,660
|
| Kentucky |
$30.58/hr
|
$63,610
|
| Maine |
$30.12/hr
|
$62,640
|
| Alabama |
$29.47/hr
|
$61,290
|
| Michigan |
$29.35/hr
|
$61,050
|
| Massachusetts |
$29.2/hr
|
$60,730
|
| Wisconsin |
$28.41/hr
|
$59,100
|
| Maryland |
$28.35/hr
|
$58,970
|
| Oregon |
$28.18/hr
|
$58,620
|
| South Dakota |
$27.71/hr
|
$57,640
|
| West Virginia |
$27.64/hr
|
$57,490
|
| Idaho |
$27.54/hr
|
$57,280
|
| Washington |
$25.93/hr
|
$53,940
|
| California |
$24.93/hr
|
$51,860
|
| Nevada |
$23.97/hr
|
$49,860
|
Category: Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers
| Total # Employed in the US |
98,090 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$17.53/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.67 |
$13.24 |
$16.73 |
$20.99 |
$25.57 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$36,470 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $22,200 |
$27,550 |
$34,790 |
$43,660 |
$53,190 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 6.0% |
36.7% |
35.5% |
10.5% |
10.0% |
1.1% |
0.2% |
|
Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$25.4/hr
|
$52,830
|
| New York |
$24.69/hr
|
$51,360
|
| Tennessee |
$21.61/hr
|
$44,960
|
| Kansas |
$21.53/hr
|
$44,790
|
| Delaware |
$20.7/hr
|
$43,060
|
| Indiana |
$20.6/hr
|
$42,840
|
| Connecticut |
$20.33/hr
|
$42,290
|
| Mississippi |
$20.15/hr
|
$41,910
|
| Nebraska |
$19.65/hr
|
$40,870
|
| North Dakota |
$19.52/hr
|
$40,600
|
| Alaska |
$19.51/hr
|
$40,570
|
| Oklahoma |
$19.2/hr
|
$39,940
|
| Arkansas |
$19.14/hr
|
$39,810
|
| Montana |
$18.95/hr
|
$39,420
|
| Missouri |
$18.7/hr
|
$38,890
|
| District of Columbia |
$18.43/hr
|
$38,330
|
| Puerto Rico |
$18.04/hr
|
$37,510
|
| Hawaii |
$18.04/hr
|
$37,520
|
| Utah |
$17.96/hr
|
$37,360
|
| Virginia |
$17.96/hr
|
$37,370
|
| South Carolina |
$17.57/hr
|
$36,540
|
| North Carolina |
$17.4/hr
|
$36,200
|
| Louisiana |
$16.88/hr
|
$35,110
|
| Michigan |
$16.63/hr
|
$34,580
|
| Iowa |
$16.6/hr
|
$34,530
|
| Guam |
$15.93/hr
|
$33,130
|
| Pennsylvania |
$15.79/hr
|
$32,850
|
| Wyoming |
$15.22/hr
|
$31,650
|
| Oregon |
$14.95/hr
|
$31,090
|
| Wisconsin |
$14.82/hr
|
$30,820
|
| Kentucky |
$14.8/hr
|
$30,780
|
| Ohio |
$14.5/hr
|
$30,160
|
| New Hampshire |
$14.42/hr
|
$29,980
|
| New Jersey |
$14.36/hr
|
$29,860
|
| Washington |
$14.04/hr
|
$29,200
|
| Idaho |
$14.03/hr
|
$29,190
|
| New Mexico |
$13.93/hr
|
$28,970
|
| Maine |
$13.86/hr
|
$28,820
|
| West Virginia |
$13.83/hr
|
$28,770
|
| Alabama |
$13.65/hr
|
$28,390
|
| Maryland |
$13.6/hr
|
$28,280
|
| Massachusetts |
$12.85/hr
|
$26,730
|
| South Dakota |
$12.63/hr
|
$26,270
|
| California |
$11.91/hr
|
$24,760
|
| Nevada |
$11.4/hr
|
$23,710
|
Category: Police Detectives
| Total # Employed in the US |
110,380 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.66/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18.25 |
$22.63 |
$29.86 |
$40.22 |
$48.07 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$65,860 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $37,960 |
$47,070 |
$62,110 |
$83,650 |
$99,980 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.5% |
10.0% |
25.9% |
12.1% |
40.2% |
9.6% |
1.8% |
|
Category: Transportation Security Officers
| Total # Employed in the US |
87,880 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$15.7/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $8.49 |
$10.57 |
$14.14 |
$19.23 |
$25.81 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$32,650 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17,670 |
$21,980 |
$29,420 |
$39,990 |
$53,690 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 11.1% |
33.9% |
22.5% |
7.8% |
19.3% |
4.7% |
0.8% |
|
