The Top 6 Homeland Security Jobs
4 Min Read
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was formed in the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Still, jobs protecting the nation extend well past any one department or any one level of government. Homeland security careers are rising across federal, state and even local jurisdictions. DHS alone employs over 240,000 people, including border patrol agents, cybersecurity analysts and chemical inspectors. Anna Maria College’s online MPA with a Homeland Security specialization provides the expertise needed to tackle some of the field’s most exciting jobs. Here are six of them:
Border Patrol Agent
Salary: $33,073 – $108,8201 (DOE)
Projected job growth through 2024: 4 percent
Education: One year of master’s level education may be required2
The Department of Homeland Security had a 2016 budget of $41.2 billion and is steadily growing. The scope of border patrol positions is quite wide, especially at the state and federal levels, where multiple government agencies need more agents, including: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration.
Privacy Analyst
Salary: $64,650 – $119,7943
Projected job growth through 2024: 21 percent4
Education: Bachelor’s degree at a minimum; master’s degree required by some employers
Privacy analysts work across government organizations to counter terrorism and enhance security, administrative performance, operational programs and other pertinent management information to develop privacy compliance documentation and privacy thresholds.
Emergency Management Director
Salary: Median annual wage of $67,330, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Projected job growth through 2024: 6 percent5
Education: Bachelor’s degree at a minimum; master’s degree required by some employers
Emergency management directors help communities prepare for and respond to natural, technological and other disasters. The position requires the ability to maintain a constant state of alertness and to take responsibility in times of crisis. The top employers for emergency management specialists are local governments, state governments, hospitals, utilities and emergency services.
Analytical Chemist
Salary: $38,179 – $84,3756
Projected job growth through 2022: 6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Education: Bachelor’s degree at a minimum; master’s degree required by some employers
Analytical chemists determine what a substance is, how much of it there is, and the relationship it may have with other compounds. For instance, they can detect the presence of chemical weapons and find the best way of disposing them. Analytical chemists help strengthen homeland security by creating new ways to identify harmful substances.7
Cybersecurity Specialist
Salary: $76,404-$90,1208
Projected job growth through 2024: 18 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Education: Ph.D. or three years of graduate-level work
Technology has become increasingly sophisticated, and the demand for experienced and qualified cybersecurity analysts to protect the country’s computer networks and information systems is skyrocketing. The Department of Homeland Security is continuously recruiting cybersecurity professionals who are versed in cyber incident response, cyber risk and strategic analysis, vulnerability detection and assessment, networks and systems engineering, digital forensics, and software assurance.
Intelligence Analyst
Salary: $40,130 – $102,8029
Projected job growth through 2018: 27 percent
Education: Bachelor’s degree at a minimum; master’s degree preferred
The Department of Homeland Security’s Terrorist Threat Integration Center is one example of a prominent intelligence analyst hub. The TTIC’s analysts coordinate and transmit information between the various intelligence agencies.
According to the Central Intelligence Agency, TTIC’s services range from a daily assessment for the President and his senior advisors to curated reports for the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to communicate with state and local officials.
Homeland security professions are on an upward trajectory with an increasing number of high-profile public officials10 encouraging students to enter the field. An online MPA degree with a Homeland Security specialization from Anna Maria College can set you on an exciting path as government evolves to meet and deter new technological and man-made threats. Learn more about how our curriculum can open up a world of fascinating job opportunities. Call us at 877-265-3201 to speak to a Program Manager or request more information online.
Sources
- “Average Border Patrol Agent Salary.” Payscale. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Border_Patrol_Agent/Salary (accessed October 25, 2023).
- “Border Patrol Agent Qualification Aid.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection. https://careers.cbp.gov/s/applicant-resources/bpa-qualification-aid. (accessed October 26, 2023).
- “Average Privacy Analyst Salary.” Payscale. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Privacy_Analyst/Salary (accessed October 26, 2023).
- “Computer Systems Analysts.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-systems-analysts.htm (accessed October 26, 2023).
- “Emergency Management Directors.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/emergency-management-directors.htm (accessed October 26, 2023).
- “Average Analytical Chemist Salary.” Payscale. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Analytical_Chemist/Salary (accessed October 26, 2023).
- “Analytical Chemist: Career and Salary Facts.” Learn.org. https://learn.org/articles/Analytical_Chemist_Career_and_Salary_FAQs.html. (accessed October 26, 2023).
- “Information Security Analysts.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm (accessed October 26, 2023).
- “Average Intelligence Analyst Salary.” Payscale. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Intelligence_Analyst/Salary (accessed October 26, 2023).
- “Officials encourage students to pursue cyber security jobs at CCGA symposium.” The Brunswick News. https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/officials-encourage-students-to-pursue-cyber-security-jobs-at-%20ccga/article_9e52e074-e4f9-5cdd-9b7b-bd869f2680c8.html (accessed October 26, 2023).