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Boston Career Explorer

Protective Service

Bailiffs

Maintain order in courts of law.

Also called: Bailiff, Court Bailiff, Court Constable, Court Deputy, Court Officer, Court Security Officer

Compare with my current job (Protective Service Workers, All Other)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$79,570
$38.26/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
550
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+1.4%
110 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$48,910$59,010$79,570$105,360$105,580

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Screen persons entering courthouse using magnetometers, x-ray machines, and other devices to collect and retain unauthorized firearms and other contraband.
  • Escort prisoners to and from courthouse and maintain custody of prisoners during court proceedings.
  • Maintain order in courtroom during trial and guard jury from outside contact.
  • Provide security by patrolling interior and exterior of courthouse and escorting judges and other court employees.
  • Guard lodging of sequestered jury.
  • Enforce courtroom rules of behavior and warn persons not to smoke or disturb court procedure.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure36 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 33
  • Language-model AIOE 41
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 33

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for bailiffs is moderate, and observed AI use is little or none. Screening devices at courthouse entrances are already part of the job, and technology may keep changing that work. Keeping order in the courtroom, escorting prisoners, and guarding juries rely on people. Federal projections note that declining caseloads and court consolidation may reduce demand.

Likely to change

  • Screening visitors with scanning equipment
  • Monitoring entrances and courthouse security

Still relies on people

  • Keeping order in the courtroom
  • Escorting and guarding prisoners, judges, and juries

What federal projections say

“Demand change - share decreases as caseloads continue to decline and courts consolidate.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

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    High school diploma or equivalent

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    High school diploma or equivalent

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

4 programs near Boston (plus 1 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

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