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Social unrest. Pandemics. Financial stress. Crime waves. Food and water shortages. Violent storms. Energy failures and hazardous materials accidents. Although emergencies can be averted in many cases, the risks that one can happen can never be completely erased.

In the decades ahead, Homeland Security and emergency management jobs—that is, openings for professionals in national security, disaster management, and emergency response roles—will be in constant demand. If you’re interested in assisting the nation and protecting its leaders, obtaining a timely Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security could be the right move now.

Emergency Management and Homeland Security Jobs

We are here to prepare you to embark on any of a variety of homeland security and emergency management careers. What kind of jobs are in these career fields? The kind that keep our nation and its citizens protected and cared for. Here are five of the most popular career paths and some insight into why they’re so important:

1. Keep Us All Safe. Serve in the Customs Enforcement and Border Protection Arena.

People can and do try to ship almost anything across America’s borders. Dangerous, illegal, and inappropriate shipments have to be stopped: illegal narcotics, forged or ripped-off intellectual property, biological hazards, non-native plants and animals, and even human beings trafficked by organized crime rings.

Jobs in customs and border security, including border patrol agents, have never been more necessary. And the pay is commensurate with your dedication. Considering salary and bonuses, according to Glassdoor, an officer working for U.S. Customs and Border Protection currently earns an annual average salary of $51,640. But as the government itself states, promotion opportunities are regular, and making upwards of $100,000 is quite possible within just a few short years.

Customs and Border Protection officers receive top-notch training and gain proficiency in cutting-edge methods and technologies. They also receive an outstanding package of benefits.

2. Become a Top-Notch Investigator. Work for the FBI.

Work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and you could find yourself investigating potential terrorist attacks, going undercover to root out and deter white-collar crime, bringing violent conspirators to justice, working to protect children and obstruct human trafficking, and upholding civil rights.

You might become an expert in crime analysis, or a special agent who brings a certain kind of knowledge and background to the role—your own. For many careers within the FBI, a bachelor’s degree is often the minimum requirement, including agents. The ideal candidate that the FBI is looking for is someone skilled in:

  • Science, engineering, and technology.
  • Languages.
  • Law and legal administration.
  • Policing.
  • Teaching.
  • Healthcare services.
  • Psychology.
  • Accounting.

For special agents, the list of career paths is nearly infinite. Or perhaps you’re interested in web development and information technology. If so, you might think about a career in forensic analysis, following digital fingerprints to track down sources of illicit activities. There are a variety of FBI jobs in the data and information spaces, including strategic technology, enterprise information management, and cyber logistics.

The FBI has field offices in every region, and full-time openings come up regularly, in every state. The pay scales are as varied as the roles.

3. Anticipate and Mitigate Disasters. Respond to Emergencies With FEMA.

What kind of jobs are in emergency management? Quite a variety, actually. Consider the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Known simply as FEMA, it’s a high-profile and intensely active agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). FEMA advises the Homeland Security Council, the DHS Secretary, and the President of the United States on every kind of matter connected to emergency management across the country.

Today’s aware graduates know that our generation faces an unprecedented convergence of risks. Dangerous emissions. Climate change and storm surges. Outages and floods. Natural disasters and pandemics. Often, these forces are combined. And FEMA plays a vital role in all of these overlapping dynamics.

You might also enjoy doing office work that serves a noble purpose—and with FEMA, this work is the most important kind. Some FEMA employees review Individual Assistance grants for people whose insurance and other forms of financial aid do not meet their basic needs in the wake of a disaster. Other employees are scientists, doing the research that informs our country’s flood zone maps. Sea level rise, erosion, and flooding have devastating impacts on agricultural, commercial and residential preparedness.

Whether you are a graduate or still earning your degree, FEMA has career opportunities available now—from career preparation experiences to development openings that can put you on the permanent job track. Career spots are competitive! The right degree can help you win the career you’ll be excited and proud to hold.

Payscale puts the average annual salary for FEMA staffers at just over $80,000. However, FEMA’s pay range is broad, and a lot depends on the kind of role you land.

4. Protect Our Leaders. Become a Secret Service Agent.

The U.S. Secret Service is looking for quality people dedicated to protective service and investigative research. Does this sound like you? As an agent with the Service, you might be called to investigate financial crimes, cybercrimes, or political crimes. You might be drawn to the Uniformed Division, which supplies physical security for the White House and the Vice President’s residence, guards the U.S. Treasury, and protects diplomats. Or you might become a surveillance specialist, watching over presidential activities.

The agency actively recruits diverse individuals from all backgrounds for both administrative and technical roles. Administrative positions involve research, writing, and analysis. Technical positions are related to support for law enforcement and other missions in critical times.

Many Secret Service positions require at least a bachelor’s degree in science or a specialized field. From materials engineers to psychologists, from social workers to forensic photographers and fingerprint experts, Secret Service personnel enjoy work that is famously fast-paced and always interesting.

U.S. Secret Service agents earn anywhere from $100,000 to just over $170,000, according to Glassdoor. While that kind of salary is likely a reflection of both education and experience, and shouldn’t be expected by those just entering the field, it does demonstrate the salary heights that can be reached over time. In any case, you’ll need broad and varied practical knowledge to enter this career and to thrive in it.

5. Protect Our Country’s Missions and People. Work in the Transportation Security Administration.

When you’re looking at what kind of jobs are in Homeland Security, you’re sure to come across the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Their stated mission is to “Protect the nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. This agency is critical to national defense, providing safeguards for people and shipments across all modes of transportation.

The TSA provides security for almost 440 airports across the nation. It employees around 50,000 security officers and 600 aviation transportation safety inspectors. Typically, pre-pandemic, they would screen 2 million passengers, 1.4 million checked items for explosives, and 5.5 million carry-on items—daily! The agency is also very high-tech, operating close to 950 advanced imaging technology machines in airports across the nation.

Not everyone, or even every agent, in the TSA is stationed in an airport. More than 4 million miles of roads, 140,000 miles of railroad tracks, 612,000 bridges, 470 tunnels, 360 maritime ports and 3700 marine terminals are also under the TSA’s areas of responsibility.

Within the TSA are “9 to 5” jobs, but you’ll also find plenty of challenging positions for specialists in areas like information technology, management, and protective service jobs. TSA work blends sought-after benefits, stability, and non-routine work, a solid income, and ever-changing challenges and options. Recent Glassdoor searches show salaries for open Emergency Preparedness Specialists and Emergency Management Specialists positions ranging from $47,000 to $89,000.

Preparation for Top Homeland Security and Emergency Management Jobs

Many of these career fields require a college education, such as a bachelor’s degree, just to get your foot in the door. Some, depending on the career you pursue, will require a graduate degree or additional certifications—up to and including some type of law enforcement or academy training. But often, the first step is earning a bachelor’s degree.

Post University can help. With the right degree from Post, you can pursue a number of career possibilities in the emergency management and Homeland Security spaces—some that may not even be created yet!

Of course, sitting in classrooms today has its own set of threats. Studying for a career the in field of homeland security shouldn’t put your own safety at risk. That’s why we offer quality distance learning to help you safely and efficiently prepare for a career in emergency management and homeland security, all with the kind of personal touch only Post can offer.

Our admissions counselors can speak with you about how to get started, and what to expect as you earn your Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Ready to get started? Need more information? Just give us a call at 800.582.8250. Take your next step on the journey to one of the most meaningful and necessary careers in the country.

 

Thank you for reading! The views and information provided in this post do not reflect Post University programs and/or outcomes directly. If you are interested in learning more about our programs, you can find a complete list of our programs on our website or reach out directly!

Please note jobs, career outcomes, and/or salaries highlighted in this blog do not reflect jobs, career outcomes, and/or salaries expected from any Post University program. To learn more about Post University’s program and their outcomes from Post University programs please fill out a form to speak with an admissions representative.