Types of Homeland Security Jobs
As you may expect, the Department of Homeland Security is the largest employer of homeland security professionals. Choosing the right job will depend on your background and career interests, and the DHS lists four overarching job categories to help you get started:- Law Enforcement
- Immigration and Travel Security
- Prevention and Response
- Mission Support
Law Enforcement
As opposed to traditional law enforcement, which is concerned with protecting the public and preventing crime, DHS law enforcement jobs primarily involve protecting elected officials and their families, securing the nation’s borders, and training law enforcement officers across a range of agencies. DHS law enforcement professionals often work for the U.S. Secret Service, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.Immigration and Travel Security
Immigration and travel security professionals work to protect the nation’s borders and transportation systems and enforce legal immigration laws. They often work for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.Prevention and Response
Prevention and response professionals do just what the name suggests: work to prevent domestic emergencies and respond to them when they do occur. These individuals develop preparedness and mitigation strategies to reduce loss of life and property damage, and they typically work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the U.S. Coast Guard.Mission Support
Like the other DHS job categories, mission support careers span a range of fields including human resources, medical, intelligence, civil rights, and many more. These professionals may work in any of the DHS’s 14 Operational and Support Components.Homeland Security Job Titles and Salary Information
Once you understand how the DHS categorizes its homeland security careers, you can begin to narrow down a list of job titles that match your skill set and career interests. However, it is important to note that many careers with a master’s in homeland security intersect multiple job categories. Medical professionals, for instance, are needed in both mission support and prevention and response, while human resources professionals can be found in all operational and support components. Because many master’s in homeland security curricula include essential courses in strategic planning, budgeting, critical infrastructure protection, public health, and human rights, these degrees can prepare you for success in a range of positions. The following list of job titles will help you decide which homeland security career may be right for you based on your background, passions, and salary target. However, it is important to note that these titles represent a small percentage of the many DHS job opportunities.DHS Law Enforcement Job Titles and Salary Information
| Job Title | Salary Information |
|---|---|
| U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division (Ranks from Officer to Chief) | Salaries from $60,424 to $164,200 depending on rank |
| Special Agent (U.S. Secret Service) | Average salary: $81,142 |
| Criminal Investigator (U.S. Secret Service) | Starting salary: $46,879 |
| Administrative Officer (U.S. Secret Service) | Starting salary: $56,233 |
| Law Enforcement Specialist (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) | Starting salary: $73,375 |
DHS Immigration and Travel Security Job Titles and Salary Information
| Job Title | Salary Information |
|---|---|
| Strategic Communications Specialist (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) | Starting salary: $114,590 |
| Program Manager (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) | Starting salary: $114,590 |
| Administrative Officer (TSA) | Starting salary: $96,552 |
| Training Specialist (TSA) | Starting salary: $70,554 |
| Transportation Security Officer (TSA) | Salaries from $29,000 to $45,000 depending on location |
DHS Prevention and Response Job Titles and Salary Information
| Job Title | Salary Information |
|---|---|
| Emergency Management Specialist (FEMA) | Salaries from $66,000 to $105,000 depending on specialty |
| Emergency Manager (FEMA) | Average salary: $97,000 |
| Deputy Superintendent (FEMA) | Starting salary: $121,280 |
| Program Analyst (U.S. Coast Guard) | Starting salary: $114,590 |
| Investigative Analyst (U.S. Coast Guard) | Starting salary: $56,233 |
DHS Mission Support Job Titles and Salary Information
| Job Title | Salary Information |
|---|---|
| Mission Support Assistant (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) | Salaries from $38,000 to $47,000 depending on location |
| Mission Support Specialist (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) | Salaries from $47,000 to $93,000 depending on location and level of experience |
| Mission Support Specialist (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) | Salaries from $50,000 to $63,000 depending on location |
| Supervisory Mission Support Specialist (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) | Starting salary: $87,252 |
| Technical Security Investigator (U.S. Secret Service) | Starting salary: $52,101 |
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