What Can I Do with a Public Safety Degree?

Public Safety Management protects the security and safety of the general public, facilitated by individuals who work at the federal, state, and local levels of the government. The work requires a combination of preparedness, strategic planning, and the administration of personnel in response to critical threats. Public Safety staff members educate and raise awareness of dangers in the community while implementing safeguards to prevent injury and death.

What is Public Safety? What Does the Area of Expertise Involve?

Positions in Public safety often involve emergency preparedness and response, as well as the coordination of resources. The goal of Public Safety administration and coordination is to protect citizens through the workforce of fire, police, and emergency medical response services. These Public Safety Administration Jobs range across levels of responsibility with areas of management, operations, and administrative skill sets. Public Safety officials track dangers and implement plans for crime prevention, traffic safety, and other Public Safety and engagement policies to protect residents from harm.

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What are Public Safety Administration Jobs?

Public Safety Administration Jobs can include police officers, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or Paramedics, Emergency Management Directors, and Medical & Health Service Managers. Jobs in Public Safety Administration range from jobs as dispatchers for the Ambulance, Fire, or Police critical response. With a median annual pay of $41,910, dispatchers can have a high-school level education or equivalent, with on-the-job training. The job outlook is also about as average, at 6%.

 An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic has a median annual pay of $35,400, with a postsecondary, nondegree education. The job outlook is slightly faster than average at 7%. This front-line response job is critical in any emergency, but it can also involve danger and on-the-job stress related to emergencies. The EMT job description involves responding to emergencies and performing life-saving medical services in the field as needed.

On the other end of the spectrum for jobs in Public Safety Management, Emergency Management Directors can expect a median annual pay of $74,590 with a bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience. The job outlook is about average, and the job description involves responding to emergencies and disasters with strategic plans for action.

Public Safety Management jobs can involve more of the business end with Medical and Health Services Managers. With a median annual salary of $100,980, the position requires a bachelor’s degree and experience in a related administrative or clinical field. The job outlook is faster than average (18%). These manager positions are tasked with planning, as well as coordination of business activities in medical and healthcare services.

 The jobs in Public Safety Management are the most critical lines of defense against dangers in our community, so the pursuit of these Public Safety degree jobs is vital to the well-being of residents. While the Public Safety Manager job description varies widely depending on the specific tasks needed for each role, the general focus on these positions is to ensure the health and safety of every individual in danger. Public Safety and Security Management jobs may work to ensure the safety of individuals from threats that originate from international and domestic sources, under a Homeland Security Officer.

What About the Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management jobs?

 Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management jobs can involve areas of Emergency Management, Fire Science, Law Enforcement or Paralegal, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Emergency Management. Popular Public Safety and Emergency Management jobs can involve Disaster Preparedness Manager positions as well as Evacuation Coordinators or Crisis Managers.

While many of these Public Safety Management degree jobs involve dealing with disasters and emergencies, the work is also fulfilling. Each person can see that their work makes a tangible difference in the lives of those around them. The educational opportunities are widely available at many colleges and universities across the US, with online and distance learning options. Public Safety Administration degree jobs require the dedicated, career-focused individual to be able to function in high-pressure environments where people are counting on their skills and expertise to not only keep them safe but also work with them to cope with an overwhelming situation.  

What Can I do with a Public Safety Administration Degree?

It’s normal to wonder: “What Can I do with a Public Safety Administration Degree?” Or, “What Can I do with a Degree in Public Safety Administration?” The answer is that there are numerous career paths in Public Safety. A degree in Public Safety Administration should mean a higher likelihood of success and advancements in the specific area of Public Safety, whether the focus is in Administration and Management or as a more front-line response role. Now more than ever, these Public Safety positions have become more critical and in demand. There will always be a role for Public Safety personnel, but it’s more than just a job outlook or career trajectory. These individuals make a real and lasting difference in the lives of those that they help and the community that they serve. 

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