Homeland Security Careers
Homeland security majors study crisis prevention and management, dealing with issues like border security, cyberattacks, terrorist activity, and financial crimes. Homeland security programs emphasize leadership and problem-solving to prepare graduates for careers that help provide safety at local and national levels.
This guide covers careers in homeland security, including employment information, salaries, and popular industries. Readers can also learn about skills, certifications, and resources that are important for professionals in this field.
Why Pursue a Career in Homeland Security?
Homeland security professionals provide safety and guidance to citizens during crises and day-to-day life. Within the field, professionals can focus on areas like finance, information technology, healthcare, and military operations.
Professionals can also pursue positions within local, state, and national agencies, finding a role that reflects their priorities. For instance, community-focused individuals can work in local positions to help their neighbors.
These professions often come with benefits, such as retirement and medical insurance; however, benefits vary by industry and organization.
Well-suited candidates are determined and compassionate analytical thinkers who can maintain composure and courage during catastrophes. Prospective homeland security professionals should also work well in teams and excel at following and providing direction.
Homeland Security Career Outlook
Salaries and career opportunities for homeland security graduates vary by industry and location.
Specifically, local government agencies have the highest employment levels among relevant industries, and California employees the most protective service workers. The most lucrative location for these professionals is Washington D.C., where they make an average salary of $65,260. Additionally, protective service professionals who work in the natural gas distribution industry and for the postal service — the most lucrative industries in the field — make average wages that exceed $80,000 annually.
Average salary also changes with experience. For instance, experienced information security analysts and intelligence officers earn about $25,000-$35,000 more per year than first-year professionals.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects increases in many homeland security careers between 2018 and 2028, including police officers (5%), emergency management directors (5%), EMTs (7%), fire inspectors (8%), and information security analysts (32%).
| Job Title | Entry-Level (0-12 months) | Early Career (1-4 Years) | Midcareer (5-9 Years) | Experienced (10-19 Years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police Officer | $44,350 | $48,380 | $54,130 | $60,780 |
| Information Security Analyst | $59,130 | $67,180 | $81,800 | $94,960 |
| Emergency Management Specialist | $50,170 | $55,240 | $63,810 | $75,520 |
Source: PayScale
Skills Gained With a Homeland Security Degree
Homeland security programs teach students to manage groups of people through crises with compassion and professionalism. These programs also cover ways to prevent and recover from issues like natural disasters, cyberattacks, and border threats.
The following list explores relevant skills in more detail.
Homeland Security Career Paths
Careers in homeland security can be found in several different areas and industries. Due to this diversity, students should choose programs that offer courses that are related to their preferred career and industry.
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement professionals prevent and react to crimes by patrolling neighborhoods, making arrests, and investigating crime scenes. They work at the city, state, and federal levels. Additional responsibilities include writing reports on criminal activity and testifying during court proceedings.
Emergency Management
Emergency management professionals determine effective responses to emergencies like hurricanes, earthquakes, and terrorist attacks. Their responsibilities include communicating with emergency and healthcare officials and distributing resources. These professionals can work for the state or federal government, healthcare facilities, and school systems.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity specialists make decisions that protect companies’ computer systems and networks from theft and sabotage. They install software, make technology upgrades, and run tests to determine network security. Analysts must also defend against and investigate cyberattacks.
Military Defense
Military defense roles include positions with the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and National Guard. Professionals often begin careers in combat, where they handle weapons and military vehicles during conflicts.
Economic Security
Economic security professionals protect U.S. finances by preventing fraud and counterfeiting. These professionals may also locate and impede funds that assist terrorists and money laundering groups. Additional tasks involve overseeing international trade and upholding intellectual property rights.
Immigration and Customs
These professionals oversee administrative details related to immigration. Responsibilities may include approving visas and applications for citizenship through naturalization. They also gather intelligence and ensure border security against illegal weapons, drugs, and terrorists.
How to Start Your Career in Homeland Security
Many homeland security careers require only a high school diploma. Examples include firefighters, police officers, and hazardous materials removal workers. However, these positions require significant on-the-job or academy training.
Pursuing an advanced education can increase your career options in the field. For example, EMTs must complete medical training programs, and emergency management directors and information security analysts must hold at least a bachelor’s degree to qualify for most positions.
Other homeland security careers relate to areas like public relations, financial management, and administrative services management. Most organizations insist on a bachelor’s for these positions.
Graduate degrees may also help students earn advanced positions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for instance, requires that special agents have either two years of fieldwork or one year of fieldwork and a graduate degree. Advanced degrees also help applicants stand out from competition, even if the position does not explicitly require a master’s or doctorate.
Associate Degree in Homeland Security
An associate degree qualifies you for many entry-level roles in homeland security. Most full-time students graduate in two years, although part-time students may need up to four years to earn their degree.
In addition to general education coursework in subjects such as English composition and psychology, associate programs in homeland security provide foundational instruction in areas like terrorism response operations, crisis communications, and organizational and facility security.
Many community colleges hold transfer agreements with public colleges and universities in their state, making it easy to transfer credits if you plan to continue your education and earn a bachelor’s degree.
What Can You Do With an Associate in Homeland Security?
Police officers respond to emergency calls, patrol neighborhoods, and conduct traffic stops. Officers with an associate degree and several years of experience may also earn promotion to ranks like corporal or sergeant, which come with more supervisory and/or investigatory responsibilities.
Salary:$65,170
Source: BLS
Bachelor’s Degree in Homeland Security
Earning a bachelor’s degree in homeland security enables you to take on jobs such as emergency management director and information security analyst. Most bachelor’s programs consist of 120 credits, and full-time students typically earn their degree in four years.
Undergraduate students majoring in homeland security often explore topics like emergency and disaster incident command; law enforcement intelligence applications; and chemical, biological, and radiological hazards. Students may also choose a concentration, such as immigration security, to prepare for specific careers.
Finally, most programs require or strongly encourage learners to complete an internship to develop practical experience in a homeland security setting.
What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s in Homeland Security?
Probation officers supervise individuals who are convicted of a crime but not sent to prison. Alternatively, correctional treatment specialists provide former inmates with resources and support for successfully reentering society. Both of these roles require a bachelor’s degree, along with a criminal background check and completion of a training program.
Salary:$54,290
Source: BLS
Master’s Degree in Homeland Security
A master’s degree in homeland security can help prepare you for supervisory and specialized roles. For example, you can serve as the director of a cybersecurity office or as a senior intelligence analyst for the National Security Agency.
Master’s programs offer advanced instruction in subjects like unconventional threats to homeland security, critical infrastructure vulnerability analysis, and strategic planning and budgeting in the public sector. Graduate students who hope to continue their education at the doctoral level often follow a research track, completing data analysis courses and writing a thesis. More practice-oriented programs may require students to complete a field-based capstone project.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Homeland Security?
Civil engineers plan, build, and maintain infrastructure projects such as highways, dams, bridges, and water supply systems. While you must have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering to take on these jobs, a master’s in homeland security may position you for a senior role overseeing infrastructure protection for a state or federal agency.
Salary:$87,060
Sources: BLS and PayScale
Doctoral Degree in Homeland Security
To teach or conduct research at a college or university, you must generally have a doctoral degree. A doctorate can also help you develop the expertise needed for senior leadership roles in the public sector, such as director-level positions in the fields of immigration and customs enforcement.
Completion times vary, but most full-time doctoral students graduate in 4-7 years. Participants typically begin with 2-3 years of coursework, taking classes in areas like public health and emergency planning; homeland security enterprise; and risk, resilience, and innovation in security policy. They must then pass a comprehensive examination before formally beginning the dissertation process.
After receiving approval of their dissertation proposal from their faculty advisor, doctoral candidates conduct original research and analyze multiple sources of existing data. They then summarize their methodology and findings in a written document — usually around 100-200 pages in length. Finally, to earn their doctorate, students must defend their dissertation before a faculty committee.
What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Homeland Security?
Postsecondary teachers instruct students at colleges, universities, and professional schools. They may also advise learners and perform other administrative tasks, such as chairing a criminal justice or homeland security department. A master’s may qualify you to teach at some community colleges, but most four-year institutions require professors to hold a doctorate in their area of expertise.
Salary:$62,860
Source: BLS
How to Advance Your Career in Homeland Security
Professionals who want to pursue certain homeland security careers may need to earn a license or certification. These credentials often require education and field experience and focus on a specific area, such as EMT certification.
Earning advanced degrees in relevant fields can also assist with career advancement. For example, a finance degree prepares graduates for auditing and budget analysis positions, and information technology degrees prepare students for cybersecurity careers.
General degree and certification areas that can help with advancement include business, human resources, and management.
Certifications and/or Licensure
Common certifications for homeland security careers include the certified homeland protection associate and certified homeland protection professional credentials. However, some homeland security positions require a career-specific license or certification.
Firefighters, for example, may need emergency medical technician certifications. Emergency management directors may also need certification. EMTs and private detectives must hold licenses in most areas.
Hazardous materials removal workers may need state or federal licenses or permits related to a specific waste product. These credentials usually require an exam and relevant training.
Professionals can also pursue certifications to build skills and qualifications for career advancement. Examples include certifications for financial crime investigation, computer hacking forensic investigation, and hostage negotiations and crisis intervention.
Continuing Education
Some homeland security certifications and careers require continuing education training. These opportunities help professionals stay current with technologies and homeland security threats and laws.
Some states offer formal continuing education options. Professionals can also attend training through organizations like FEMA. FEMA training explores topics like emergency management and first response.
Additionally, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security delivers self-paced courses on current events, counterterrorism, research, and transportation security. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also helps professionals find fellowships, which can lead to career advancement.
Some professionals decide to return to school, earning a certificate or advanced degree from a college or university. However, certifications often provide more focused and current information than college programs; depending on your target job, these credentials may hold more weight with future employers.
Next Steps
Homeland security professionals must stay current with various technologies, resources, and concerns to prevent and manage crises. Professionals can stay current by engaging in continuing education, which also helps them renew certifications.
Professionals can also connect with homeland security organizations that host conferences, seminars, and meetings. These events allow members to network and learn from each other’s experiences. Attendees can also participate in workshops and seminars.
Professionals should subscribe to homeland security magazines and journals and consider training and fellowship experiences related to their careers. They can also subscribe to get email updates from the DHS on homeland security news and follow organizations like the DHS and FEMA on social media.
How to Switch Your Career to Homeland Security
Professionals in different fields who want to pursue homeland security careers may need to pursue new degrees, certifications, and/or training. Firefighters and police officers, for example, need academy training, and fire inspectors may need a related certification.
However, many degrees can satisfy educational requirements for homeland security positions. For example, public health or business graduates can earn positions as emergency management directors, and criminal justice professionals and social workers can often find work as probation officers.
Professionals who transition into careers in homeland security should choose jobs that are related to their area of expertise. Accounting graduates can work as auditors, and communication professionals can become public affairs specialists. Foreign language professionals may excel in border protection and patrol.
Additionally, cybersecurity, economics, and environmental studies graduates can all easily transition into roles related to homeland security.
Where Can You Work as a Homeland Security Professional?
Homeland security professionals can work in several fields, including law enforcement, cybersecurity, healthcare, and emergency management. They can work in the public and private sectors.
Industries
Industries that hire homeland security professionals can be found at the local, state, and national levels. For example, these professionals work for city police stations, state governments, and federal agencies like the FBI.
Read on for more information about different homeland security industries.
Source: BLS
Locations
California, New York, Florida, and Texas hire the most homeland security professionals among states in the U.S., while states like Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, and Vermont hire fewer than 10,000 workers.
A worker’s location also impacts their earnings. Protective service professionals in the District of Columbia, Alaska, California, and Washington earn the highest average annual salaries, with wages surpassing $60,000 per year.
Professionals should also consider location when calculating how much their homeland security degree is worth. Alaska, for example, pays more than most states, but it does not have as many career opportunities. Texas, on the other hand, employs nearly 300,000 homeland security professionals, but its average salary is under $50,000.
Choose Your State Below
Interview With a Homeland Security Professional
Steve Muntean is an investor leading the charge for innovation in the security services sector with his company, Overwatch Capital. Prior to working at Overwatch Capital, Steve was a state police lieutenant with a focus in homeland security. He has a master’s in homeland security from American Military University.
Resources for Homeland Security Majors
Homeland security majors can read relevant journals and magazines or join professional organizations to learn more about the field. These resources may connect learners with webinars, events, certifications, and continuing education opportunities.
Read on for more information about resources for homeland security students.
Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Justice Careers
Is a degree in homeland security worth it?
It depends. Homeland security professionals must work long hours, but they can earn above-average annual salaries. Like many careers, homeland security professionals tend to earn higher wages as they gain experience and complete more advanced degrees.
What degree is needed for homeland security?
Some homeland security roles only require a high school diploma, such as police officers, correctional officers, and firefighters. Positions like emergency management directors and correctional treatment specialists require a bachelor’s degree. Some advanced positions require graduate degrees.
Is homeland security a good career?
Careers with homeland security degrees may appeal to people who thrive when creating safe and reliable environments for others. To be good at their jobs, homeland security professionals must be empathetic and courageous, as well as good problem-solvers. These careers offer personal and professional satisfaction and generally provide medical insurance and retirement plans.
How do I get a job in homeland security?
Careers for a homeland security major often require specific training and certification, in addition to a postsecondary degree. Students should research their intended career to determine the exact requirements.
What do homeland security jobs pay?
Salary potential varies by position, location, and industry. However, DHS employees earn an average annual salary of around $77,000, with upper-level employees earning six figures.
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