Background Checks: Thorough criminal history review - felonies disqualify you
Drug Screening: Random drug tests throughout your career
Shift Work: Nights, weekends, holidays - when everyone else is off
Psychological Stress: You'll see trauma, violence, death, and human suffering
Danger: You could be injured or killed in the line of duty
The Trade-Off: Job security, excellent benefits, pension plans, and the respect of serving your community
These jobs exist because society NEEDS people willing to run toward danger while others run away.
Top 5 Public Safety Jobs by Availability
These aren't projections. These are actual job postings on Indeed as of November 28, 2025. Ranked by MOST jobs available - not prestige, not salary, just raw opportunity.
#1
Security Guards
31,634 jobs
MOST public safety jobs available
Education Requirements
Guard Card Training: 8-40 hours (varies by state)
Cost: $50-$300 (CA: $55-60, FL: $45-145)
Timeline: 1-2 weeks (some states same-day)
Many employers hire FIRST, train FREE
High school diploma, 18+, background check
Armed upgrade: +40-48 hours, $500-$1,000
$38,370/year ($18.45/hr)
BLS May 2024 median
#2
Correctional Officers
15,322 jobs
Work in jails and prisons - HIGH stress
Education Requirements
Training Academy: 8-13 weeks (440-480 hours)
Cost: FREE - Most agencies PAY YOU during training!
Starting pay during academy: $65,000-$68,000/year
Timeline: 2-4 months academy + on-the-job training
High school diploma, 18-21+, rigorous background
Physical fitness test required
$57,970/year ($27.87/hr)
BLS May 2024 median
#3
Police Officers
5,429 jobs
Law enforcement patrol and response
Education Requirements
Police Academy: 18-26 weeks (avg 833 hours)
Cost: FREE if hired by department
OR self-sponsored: $2,000-$6,500
Timeline: 5-6 months academy + 6-12 month probation
High school diploma (some require college)
21+ years, extensive background check
$76,290/year ($36.68/hr)
BLS May 2024 median (patrol officers)
#4
EMT/Paramedics
4,417 jobs
Emergency medical care and transport
EMT-Basic
Training: 120-200 hours (3 months)
Cost: $800-$2,500
NREMT exam: $104
Paramedic (requires EMT first)
Training: 1,200-1,800 hours (12-24 months)
Cost: $3,000-$13,000
NREMT Paramedic exam: $160
EMT: $37,400/year Paramedic: $50,900/year
BLS 2024 data
#5
Firefighters
1,347 jobs
Fire suppression & emergency response
Education Requirements
Fire Academy: 12-16 weeks (500-600 hours)
Cost: $1,000-$5,300 (many depts pay during academy)
Timeline: 3-4 months + ongoing training
PLUS EMT certification often required: +3 months, $800-$2,500
High school diploma, 18+ (many prefer 21+)
Firefighter I & II certifications
Pass rigorous physical agility test
$59,530/year ($28.62/hr)
BLS May 2024 median
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare ALL 5 careers at a glance
Position
Jobs Available
Training Time
Cost
Salary
Security Guards
31,634
1-2 weeks
$50-$300
$38,370/yr
Correctional Officers
15,322
8-13 weeks
FREE (paid during)
$57,970/yr
Police Officers
5,429
18-26 weeks
FREE (if hired)
$76,290/yr
EMT-Basic
4,417
3 months
$800-$2,500
$37,400/yr
Paramedic
12-24 months
$3,000-$13,000
$50,900/yr
Firefighters
1,347
12-16 weeks (+EMT)
$1,000-$5,300
$59,530/yr
Key Insight: Security Guards have 6X MORE job openings than Firefighters, require minimal training, and start work in weeks instead of months.
Why These Jobs Matter
While AI threatens to automate knowledge work, these careers exist because humans will always need other humans in emergencies. You can't outsource a burning building to India. You can't ask ChatGPT to restrain a violent prisoner. You can't have a robot perform CPR on your grandmother.
These jobs offer something increasingly rare in 2025: job security, pension plans, excellent benefits, and the knowledge that your work directly saves lives and protects your community.
Yes, they're hard. Yes, they're dangerous. Yes, the hours suck. But they're REAL jobs with REAL paychecks that can't be eliminated by the next wave of automation.
The question isn't whether these jobs are easy. The question is whether you're willing to do what others won't.
