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Job outlook for surveillance operators in the United States
Are surveillance operator jobs in demand?
Surveillance operator job and salary trends over time
Surveillance operator jobs over time
Surveillance operator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,792 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,534 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,124 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,108 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,127 | 0.00% |
Average surveillance operator salary over time
Surveillance operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $32,930 | $15.83 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $31,895 | $15.33 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | $30,486 | $14.66 | --1.7% |
| 2023 | $31,027 | $14.92 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $30,440 | $14.63 | +4.7% |
Surveillance operator jobs by state
Most common states for surveillance operators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 210 | 30% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,484 | 22% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 203 | 19% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 144 | 19% |
| 5 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,205 | 13% |
| 6 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 156 | 11% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 73 | 7% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 66 | 7% |
| 9 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 508 | 5% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 286 | 5% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 379 | 4% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 281 | 4% |
| 13 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 239 | 4% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 151 | 4% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 144 | 4% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 93 | 4% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 77 | 4% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 60 | 4% |
| 19 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 23 | 4% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 42 | 3% |
Most common cities for surveillance operators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cottage Grove | 1 | 3% | $37,530 |
| 2 | Burnsville | 1 | 2% | $37,418 |
| 3 | Bossier City | 1 | 1% | $28,167 |
| 4 | Detroit | 2 | 0% | $33,417 |
Surveillance Operator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of surveillance operator experts
Governors State University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Dr. Latarcia Barnes PhD
Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology, Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Surveillance Operator?
Dr. Latarcia Barnes PhD: Federal law enforcement is a great profession to enter. There is retirement after 20 years, great career advancement, and great benefits
Dr. Janet Brewer
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice & SociologyGovernors State University
Criminal Justice And Corrections
What general advice would you give to a Surveillance Operator?
Dr. Janet Brewer: Market yourself as someone who can increase revenue or decrease workload for that entity. Use your school's alumni network to its fullest.
Logan Somers Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorGeorgia Southern University
Criminal Justice and Criminology Department
What skills stand out on Surveillance Operator resumes?
Logan Somers Ph.D.: Skills and experiences that stand out on Law Enforcement Officer resumes are not too dissimilar from desirable qualities in other industries. First, even though the vast majority of police departments do not have an education requirement beyond high school, most recruits entering the academy do have at least some college experience. Therefore, having an associate's or bachelor's degree will make you competitive. Further, policing in today's society requires officers to be elite communicators, critical thinkers, and problem-solvers. Any prior work experience that can be used to demonstrate how you performed those skills under pressure should be highlighted. Lastly, any prior community service and or mentoring should be included. Having these experiences displays your commitment to improving your community and bettering the lives of those around you.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Surveillance Operators?
Logan Somers Ph.D.: A significant portion of an officer's day can often be spent filling out paperwork. Every stop, citation, warrant, arrest, or use of force incident typically requires forms that need to be filled out and sent to supervisors for review. This makes the ability to write proficiently and provide a descriptive narrative of events crucial for day-to-day police work.
What skills will help Surveillance Operators earn the most?
Logan Somers Ph.D.: Most police organizations follow a bureaucratic, hierarchical model that has many layers of management and specialized units. Though the complexity of this hierarchy varies slightly from department to department, it is nearly universal that all sworn officers begin their careers on patrol. From there, departments often have Civil Service procedures that dictate the minimum requirements necessary for an officer to advance within the department. This usually entails a mandate that an officer must spend between 2 and 5 years on patrol before they are eligible to apply to a supervisory rank or specialized unit. A few ways in which officers can build skills during that time that will help them be competitive when seeking promotions is to continue both their formal education and take increased in-service training. Also, obtaining good performance evaluations is typically vital for advancement.
Amanda Graham Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorGeorgia Southern University
Criminal Justice & Criminology
What skills stand out on Surveillance Operator resumes?
Amanda Graham Ph.D.: Completed Degree - Although not required for most departments around the country, the completion of a higher-ed degree in any subject signals to hiring committees that the applicant is (1) seeking to improve themselves, (2) open to learning new things, and (3) capable of finishing a goal that they set out to reach.
A second language - Particularly for candidates that speak Spanish fluently, the ability to speak a second language is of increasing importance as communities around the country continue to diversify.
What soft skills should all Surveillance Operators possess?
Amanda Graham Ph.D.: Verbal Communication - The ability to talk to/hold a conversation with a stranger is essential in the human enterprise of policing. It is one of the best tools and officer has with them to address any situation.
Ethical Decision-Making (Using Discretion Appropriately) - The ability to make the best decision in a given situation is absolutely critical in policing. Not only do officers need to have sound and logical judgment, but also the capacity to make ethically sound decisions helps to prevent the introduction of bias into the criminal justice system.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Surveillance Operators?
Amanda Graham Ph.D.: Written Communication/Writing/English - Policing heavily involves being able to articulate your ideas in writing, especially for writing reports and warrants. These documents demand officers provide their probable cause for a case; without this capacity, cases can be dropped and warrant applications unsuccessful.