Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Protective Service

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

Also called: Deputy Sheriff, K-9 Handler (Canine Handler), Law Enforcement Officer, Patrol Officer, Peace Officer, Police Officer

Compare with my current job (Protective Service Workers, All Other)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$78,180
$37.59/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
11,440
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+4.7%
1,390 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
$61,750$72,270$78,180$98,820$107,240

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

What you’d do

  • Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
  • Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
  • Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
  • Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
  • Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
  • Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.

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.

Lower exposure33 of 100

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

  • AIOE 28
  • Language-model AIOE 29
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 42

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is on the lower side, and some AI use has been seen. AI tools may help with writing incident reports and checking records. They do not replace responding to emergencies, making arrests, giving first aid, or building trust in the community.

Likely to change

  • Writing incident reports
  • Checking records and legal charges

Still relies on people

  • Responding to emergencies and giving first aid
  • Making arrests and building community trust

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

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

    Your knowledge of safety and security carries over to installing alarms and cameras. It pays a Boston median of $78,560 with on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$380 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Safety habits and working outdoors in all conditions carry over. It offers a Boston median of $111,490 and 13.3% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$33,310 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +13.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

    Talking with people to find out what's wrong carries over. It pays a Boston median of $78,530, with 9.9% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$350 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +9.9%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

Training near Boston

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

5 programs near Boston (plus 2 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach