| > | | | | security professionals: |
| Earning a degree in homeland security can open more | | | | Security consultants |
| doors than you might think. While homeland security | | | | Private security |
| likely inspires images of government work, the | | | | Teachers/researchers |
| budding industry spans a wide range of private | | | | Emergency management professionals |
| sector careers. "I'd say there's not an industry or | | | | Training for Homeland Security Careers |
| business out there today that's not impacted by | | | | Since the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was |
| homeland security," Rich Cooper, business liaison | | | | created in 2001, training programs have evolved to |
| director at the U.S. Department of Homeland | | | | meet the specialized needs of workers in the field. |
| Security, told Occupational Outlook Quarterly. | | | | Required training varies widely by career--border |
| Whether you want to work on the front lines of the | | | | patrol agents, for example, typically need a bachelor's |
| war on terror or in the background infrastructure, | | | | degree, one year of qualifying experience, or a |
| careers in homeland security offer you the challenge | | | | combination of education and experience. |
| you seek. | | | | More technical careers may require a bachelor's |
| Average Federal Homeland Security Salaries | | | | degree, while careers focusing more on physical |
| Government jobs within the Department of | | | | security duties may only require coursework or an |
| Homeland Security vary, from Coast Guard engineers | | | | associate degree level of training. Typical coursework |
| to customs agents, law enforcement specialists to | | | | in a homeland security training program may include |
| immigration officers. Here are a few average annual | | | | the following topics: |
| salaries for full-time workers in Federal government | | | | Disaster response |
| homeland security positions: | | | | Psychology & crisis negotiation |
| Border patrol agent: $63,550 | | | | Conflict resolution |
| Air traffic controller: $72,049 | | | | Hazardous materials & weaponry |
| Criminal investigating: $88,174 | | | | Research individual careers in the field to learn more |
| Customs agent: $59,248 | | | | about suggested training and coursework. Many |
| In addition to base pay, Federal employees may | | | | degree programs cover a broad spectrum of |
| receive cash awards up to $25,000 for sustained high | | | | homeland security issues, but some careers may |
| job performance or a special act of service. No | | | | require specific technical training. |
| career training program can guarantee a particular | | | | Benefits of a Career in Homeland Security |
| career or salary, of course, but hiring managers for | | | | Careers in homeland security may be hazardous, |
| competitive Federal jobs may prefer or require the | | | | stressful, and difficult, and workers often take note |
| formal training provided by a degree in homeland | | | | of the unpredictable schedule, though many |
| security. | | | | appreciate the variety. "It's the diversity of each day |
| Homeland Security Careers Outside the Federal | | | | that's the best part of the job," says State |
| Government | | | | Emergency Management Director and Homeland |
| Private companies often partner with the | | | | Security Director Art Cleaves. |
| government to provide goods and services under the | | | | If you can rise to the challenge presented by a |
| heading of homeland security. Training in the field | | | | homeland security career, you'll derive real job |
| may qualify you for jobs in the private sector, which | | | | satisfaction from the knowledge that your actions |
| encompasses non-profit and for-profit groups. Here | | | | make the nation safer every day. |
| are just a few popular careers for trained homeland | | | | |