How To Become A Protection Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a protection specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.

A protection specialist, also known as a "bodyguard," is an individual who provides transportation and closes bodily protection for a client or clients. These individuals also provide security services for organizations and monitor their client's persons and property's security and protection. These specialists are familiar with weapons training, security tactics and measures, and surveillance technology such as CCTV cameras to detect and investigate criminal activities. They must also be ready to apprehend suspects and detain them for local law enforcement.

A protection specialist does not necessarily need an advanced degree but must possess adequate communication, observational and tactical skills. Most protection specialists must also pass certification courses in bodyguard training and firearms training and pass a background check.

Protection specialists can make up to $75,000 annually, and the career field is expected to grow 4% by 2028.

What general advice would you give to a protection specialist?

Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

They need to avoid being overzealous officers. They should not put their career at the center of their life. They need to spend quality time with their family. In law enforcement, good relations with the public and colleagues are essential. They need to develop good relationships with the people and their colleagues and expand their professional network. They always try to be a "problem solver officer" rather than a "problem creator officer." If someone asks for help from them, they should treat this person with dignity and respect. They should avoid being arrogant in their interaction with the public. Because arrogance is the worst plague, and Humility is the greatest virtue.

ScoreProtection SpecialistUS Average

Salary

6.0

Avg. Salary $76,307

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.58%

Asian 5.33%

Black or African American 12.39%

Hispanic or Latino 22.21%

Unknown 5.30%

White 53.18%

Gender

female 22.79%

male 77.21%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.4

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a protection specialist

Explore protection specialist education requirements

Most common protection specialist degrees

Bachelor's

47.9 %

Associate

22.9 %

High School Diploma

18.3 %

Start to develop specific protection specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Guest Service	29.87%
Physical Security	15.41%
Safety Issues	8.64%
Safety Procedures	4.76%
Loss Prevention	3.80%

Complete relevant protection specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New protection specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a protection specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real protection specialist resumes.

Research protection specialist duties and responsibilities

Provide support to team leads, analyst and other miscellaneous AML business units.
Enter and manage water system inventory and monitoring requirements into EPA record database.
Perform all sampling and releases require by NRC regulations of a nuclear power plant.
Maintain the original records of all inspections and training in accordance with RCRA and OSHA policies.

Prepare your protection specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your protection specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a protection specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable protection specialist resume templates

Build a professional protection specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your protection specialist resume.