Public Safety Careers
Police, firefighter, EMS, emergency management — protecting communities.
Public safety careers — police, firefighting, EMS, emergency management — share the demand for steady judgement under pressure. Each has its own academy, ranks, and specialty branches.
11 careers in this collection
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
Police Identification and Records Officers
Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.
Police Officer
Protect and serve your community by enforcing laws, responding to emergencies, and building trust between law enforcement and citizens
Transit and Railroad Police
Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers.
Firefighter
Protect lives and property by responding to emergencies, fighting fires, and serving your community when it needs you most
Hotshot Wildland Firefighter
Type 1 wildland crew
Flight Paramedic
Provide critical care during air medical transport
Detective / Investigator
Investigate crimes and build cases
Private Detectives and Investigators
Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.
Emergency Medical Technicians
Assess injuries and illnesses and administer basic emergency medical care.
Paramedic
Deliver emergency medical care in critical pre-hospital situations
Median annual wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023, for the occupation each career is classified under. Careers with no published federal figure show none.
Not sure which path fits you?
Take our Career Match quiz — 3 minutes, built on Holland (1959) RIASEC theory. Get personalized recommendations from 2,521 career paths.
Take the Career Match quiz →