1

Protection Officer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Personal Protection Officer

Reston, VA

$17 - $20/hr

POSITION SUMMARY The Personal Protection Officer (PPO) - Security Services provides comprehensive protective security and operational support in a high-threat, contingency environment. This role is ...

Showing results 21-40

Protection Officer information

See Washington salary details

$13

$21

$29

How much do protection officer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for protection officer in Washington is $21.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.62 and $23.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a protection officer?

To thrive as a Protection Officer, you need a solid understanding of security protocols, risk assessment, and emergency response procedures, often supported by relevant certifications or security licenses. Familiarity with surveillance systems, access control software, and incident reporting tools is typically required. Strong observation skills, integrity, and effective communication are essential soft skills for this role. These competencies are crucial for ensuring the safety of people and property, as well as for responding quickly and appropriately to potential threats.

What are some common challenges faced by protection officers in the field?

Protection Officers often encounter challenges such as managing high-stress situations, balancing the need for vigilance with approachability, and adapting quickly to changing security risks. They must remain calm and decisive during emergencies, while also maintaining clear communication with team members and the public. Additionally, they frequently collaborate with law enforcement and organizational staff to ensure safety protocols are effectively implemented.

What is a protection officer?

A protection officer is a type of security guard who monitors a facility during and after business hours to prevent theft, damage, and other types of loss. Typical job duties involve interacting with employees, observing customers and clients, and patrolling the grounds. As a protection officer, you must document any information related to incidents of theft, damage, and loss. Most protection officers are not law enforcement officials, so when you are faced with a criminal situation, you call law enforcement and provide support to these officers on the scene. There are different levels for this career, and the higher levels may require more responsibility and potentially armed guarding duties.

What is the difference between Protection Officer vs Security Guard?

AspectProtection OfficerSecurity Guard
CredentialsMay require security certifications, first aid, and sometimes specialized trainingOften requires basic security or guard licenses
Work EnvironmentTypically works in corporate, government, or NGO settings focusing on protection and risk managementUsually stationed at physical locations like buildings, events, or premises for surveillance
Employer & IndustryEmployers include government agencies, NGOs, and private companiesEmployers are security firms, retail stores, or private clients

The Protection Officer and Security Guard roles both focus on safety, but Protection Officers often handle risk assessment, threat management, and work in more specialized environments. Security Guards primarily focus on physical security and surveillance. The roles can overlap, but Protection Officers typically require more training and work in more complex security scenarios.

What do protection officers do?

Protection officers are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of people, property, or assets. They monitor premises, enforce security protocols, conduct patrols, and respond to incidents, often working with security equipment and maintaining detailed reports.
What cities in Washington are hiring for Protection Officer jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Protection Officer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Protection Officer jobs in WA? For Protection Officer jobs in WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Protection Officer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 23% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,524 per year, or $21.9 per hour.

Lead Investigative Protection Officer

U.S. Secret Service

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site, Remote

$76K - $99K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Summary
Joining the Secret Service, Office of Field Operations, allows you to serve as a Lead Investigative Protection Officer. This position supports an integrated protective and investigative mission(s) which plans, directs, coordinates, and implements domestic and international protective and investigative policies, programs and operations of the Secret Service.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help
The selectee will serve as a Lead Investigative Protection Officer in the Office of Field Operations. Typical work assignments include:
  • Assigning, overseeing, and reviewing the work of team members.
  • Performing and/or conducting protective and investigative functions.
  • Ensuring all investigative information is processed in all applicable databases.
  • Planning logistics and strategic plans to arrange protective services and transportation for internal and external law enforcement counterparts.
  • Preparing reports and presentations to senior level management on protective services and investigative operations.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to impact the Secret Service's security initiatives in support of our protective and investigative missions. This Lead Investigative Protection Officer position starts at $76,463.00 (GS-12, Step-1), with potential to $99,404.00 (GS-12, Step-10).
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
  • US Citizenship.
  • Possess and maintain a current valid driver's license. Must be REAL ID compliant.
  • Obtain and maintain a Top-Secret Clearance.
  • Certify registration or exemption with the Selective Service if you are a male applicant born after 12/31/59.
  • Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing during employment.
  • Submit to a polygraph examination prior to your appointment.
  • Complete pre-employment medical examinations. Click here for more information.
  • Be at least age 21 at the time of application and less than age 40 at the time of referral (unless currently employed in a law enforcement provision of the FERS/Civil Service Retirement System or previous service in a Federal Civilian Law Enforcement position covered by special civil service retirement provision, including early/mandatory retirement).
  • Carry and use a firearm. Maintaining firearm proficiency is also mandatory. You will be ineligible to occupy this position if at any time you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, unless you received a pardon, or your conviction was expunged or set aside.
  • Possess uncorrected visual acuity of no worse than 20/100 binocular. Possess corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye. Lasik, ALK, RK, and PRK corrective eye surgeries are acceptable eye surgeries for applicants, and you will be considered eligible for this position provided specific visual tests are passed. Waiting periods are Lasik-2 months after surgery, PRK-6 months after surgery, and ALK/RK-1 year after surgery.
  • Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 25 decibels (A.S.A. or equivalent I.S.O.) in either ear in the 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz ranges.
  • Complete or secure an appropriate waiver for a 13-week Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) AND a 10-week Mixed Basic Training Course (MBTC) at the Agency's James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC). Click here to review the required Fitness Standards. Failure to pass these training programs on the first attempt may result in separation from the U. S. Secret Service.

Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, USC, Section 922(g)(91)).
Qualifications
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
To qualify for the GS-12 grade level you must possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:
  • Compiling documentation for protective services and/or investigative operations;
  • Performing law enforcement activities such as surveillance, collecting evidence, serving warrants, and/or making arrests; and
  • Performing protective service activities such as participating in advance security surveys, maintaining a security post, and/or surveying facilities and surrounding areas.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50, "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). You may need to submit more than one SF-50 to comply.
The qualification and eligibility requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience aloneno substitution of education for experience is permitted.
Additional information
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
You will be required to complete and sign an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, to certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to receiving your Conditional Job Offer letter. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code ยง 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R ยง 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to HRSupport@usss.dhs.gov.
More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur.
This position is covered by Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) and additional compensation may be paid at the rate of up to 25% of the base salary.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR ยง 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR ยง 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone) (exception: a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the form of a ring is authorized on one finger).
View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.
Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.