Public Safety Industry Snapshot Public safety is a term used to describe the administration of justice, public order, and protection. This can include the courts, police, fire, correctional and parole institutions, as well as investigative and security y t e f a services. Public safety public s nationwide is projected to add more than 400,000 jobs by 2018, and almost half of new jobs will be with state and local governments. Local public safety agencies will require additional manpower as they increasingly assume public safety responsibilities formerly borne by the Federal government. Forensic science technicians, firefighters, detectives and criminal investigators, and security guards are among the fastest growing jobs in public safety. Public safety jobs in the State of Arizona averaged $41,330 annually in 2009.
Occupation
Fastest Growing Detectives & Criminal Investigators $57,230 FireFighters $42,930 Police & Sheriff’s Patrol Officers $58,450 Private Detectives & Investigators $42,210 Security Guards $24,650 Largest Number Correctional Officers & Jailers $38,930 Detectives & Criminal Investigators $57,230 FireFighters $42,930 Police & Sheriff’s Patrol Officers $58,450 Security Guards $24,650
Essential Industry Transferable Skills •
Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions. • Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. • Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively. • Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. Source: O*Net
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MCCCD CAREER GUIDE
Average Annual Wage*
* Source: Arizona Department of Commerce 2009
Safety Officers, Maricopa Community Colleges