Country edition: USA Beta
USA Edition · Career Cluster

Public Service & Safety

5 sub-clusters·5 career pages so far·BLS pay May 2025

The Public Service & Safety Career Cluster encompasses roles in local, state, and federal government; legal and justice systems; security; and military operations, all aimed at promoting civic responsibility and ensuring the well-being, security, functionality, and resilience of communities, states, and countries.

The cluster

What this cluster covers

Definition
The Public Service & Safety Career Cluster encompasses roles in local, state, and federal government; legal and justice systems; security; and military operations, all aimed at promoting civic responsibility and ensuring the well-being, security, functionality, and resilience of communities, states, and countries.
Advance CTE
Public Service & Safety Career ClusterAdvance CTE
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20 Oct 2026
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Career pages

Careers in this cluster

Entry education, license and BLS pay and outlook for every career page in this cluster. Each career page shows what the job is and links its step-by-step roadmap.

CareerTypical entryLicenseMedian pay, May 2025Outlook 2025–35Career page
Law (Pre-Law to J.D. and the Bar)
Judicial Systems		 Doctoral or professional degree Required
Law license		 $159,670
Lawyers		 +5%
BLS
Occupational Outlook HandbookU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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7 Oct 2026
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 Open: Law (Pre-Law to J.D. and the Bar)
Police Officer & Detective
Public Safety		 High school diploma to a college degree, depending on the agency Set by each agency $77,310
Police and detectives		 +3%
BLS
Police and Detectives — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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 Open: Police Officer & Detective
Correctional Officer & Bailiff
Public Safety		 High school diploma or equivalent Some states $58,850
Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers		 −7%
BLS
Correctional Officers and Bailiffs — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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 Open: Correctional Officer & Bailiff
Paralegal & Legal Assistant
Judicial Systems		 Associate's degree None $62,890
Paralegals and legal assistants		 0%
BLS
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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 Open: Paralegal & Legal Assistant
Firefighter
Emergency Response		 Postsecondary nondegree award EMT in many departments $59,280
Firefighters		 +4%
BLS
Firefighters — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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 Open: Firefighter

Pay is the BLS median for the occupation named under it, for May 2025; half of workers earned more, half less. For comparison, BLS projects all U.S. jobs to grow 3.5% over 2025–35. The career's sub-cluster comes from Advance CTE's SOC crosswalk.

Shared careers

Also in this cluster

Advance CTE places some occupations in more than one cluster. These careers have their page under another cluster, and the crosswalk puts them here too.

5 sub-clusters

Sub-clusters and example programs

Major groupings of career areas within a given field that have similar skills as defined by industry area. The programs are Advance CTE's examples of school and college programs of study; what is offered varies by state.

  • Emergency Response

    Careers focused on strategic actions taken to prepare for and manage crises and emergencies, including natural disasters, fires, accidents, and other urgent situations.

    Example programs Emergency & Fire Management Services · Fire Science

  • Judicial Systems

    Careers dedicated to maintaining the legal system, upholding justice, fairness, and the rule of law for both individuals and organizations.

    Example programs Legal Studies · Paralegal & Legal Assistant Training

  • Local, State & Federal Services

    Careers in government agencies responsible for policy and economic development, ensuring democratic processes, access to public services, governance, public administration, public policy, urban and regional planning, and community development.

    Example programs Economics · Public Management & Administration · Regional & Urban Planning

  • Military & National Security

    Careers centered on safeguarding countries through defense operations, strategic planning, intelligence gathering, and technological resilience.

    Example programs National Security

  • Public Safety

    Careers in law enforcement, corrections, and both public and private security.

    Example programs Criminal Justice · Law Enforcement Services · Security & Protective Services

Government jobs

Federal, state and city civil service

Federal agencies hire through job announcements, mostly on USAJOBS. States, counties and cities run separate systems with their own exams and lists.

Federal agencies · USAJOBS

The federal government's official employment site, run by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). You create a profile with an email address and apply to agency job announcements there.

USAJOBS
About USAJOBSU.S. Office of Personnel Management
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20 Oct 2026
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Competitive service
Most executive-branch civil service jobs. When agencies hire from outside their own workforce for jobs lasting more than 120 days, the law requires them to post the vacancy with OPM.
OPM
Federal Employment OverviewU.S. Office of Personnel Management (FedsHireVets)
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20 Oct 2026
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Excepted service
Jobs excepted from the competitive hiring rules. Some agencies post these on USAJOBS voluntarily; others recruit on their own websites.
OPM
Federal Employment OverviewU.S. Office of Personnel Management (FedsHireVets)
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20 Oct 2026
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Open USAJOBS.gov

States, counties & cities

Federal rules stop at federal agencies. Each state, county and city runs its own hiring system, often with its own civil service exams, so check the government you want to work for.

Example: New York State fills jobs by "merit and fitness" under its constitution, through civil service exams and eligible lists, plus non-competitive roles.

NYS Civil Service
Job Seekers — New York State Department of Civil ServiceNew York State Department of Civil Service
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20 Oct 2026
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Law enforcement and firefighting

JobEducationSelectionRulesMedian payOutlook 2025–35
Police officer High school diploma to a college degree, depending on the agency Written exams and physical tests (vision, hearing, strength, agility), then the agency's training academy Usually at least 21; most states and local jurisdictions require U.S. citizenship
BLS
Police and Detectives — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
Checked
20 Oct 2026
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 $77,310
police and detectives		 +3%
Firefighter High school diploma or equivalent Written and physical tests and interviews, then fire academy training Departments may also require EMT certification
BLS
Firefighters — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
Checked
20 Oct 2026
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 $59,280 +4%

Median annual pay, May 2025. Hiring steps differ by agency and department.

Serve the country

Foreign Service and the military

The State Department and each armed service run their own selection, apart from USAJOBS. These are their entry routes as each one publishes them.

Foreign Service Officer · U.S. Department of State

As a U.S. Foreign Service Officer (FSO), you'll engage with foreign governments, advocate for U.S. interests, and shape global policy, at more than 270 embassies and consulates and in Washington, D.C.

State Dept.
U.S. Foreign Service: careers, process and FAQU.S. Department of State
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20 Oct 2026
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U.S. citizen, at least 20 and under 60, willing to serve anywhere in the world. No specific degree and no foreign language are required first.

  1. Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). Multiple choice: general knowledge, English grammar, U.S. history and foreign policy, and logical reasoning. In 2026 it is given quarterly; registration opens one month before each test.
  2. Oral Assessment. A two-part written and oral exam of general knowledge, analytical and negotiation skills.
  3. Medical and security clearances. Background and medical checks for service at high-risk posts.
  4. Final review panel. The Department decides final suitability.

Five career tracks: Consular, Economic, Management, Political and Public Diplomacy.

Open careers.state.gov

Enlisted member · all branches

Who can join
Common to all branches: at least 17 (with a parent's consent at 17), a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, a high school diploma or equivalent, no felony conviction, and a medical exam.
BLS
Military Careers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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ASVAB
Enlisted recruits take the ASVAB. The AFQT score that decides eligibility comes from four subtests (Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Word Knowledge) and is a percentile from 1 to 99. A recruiter can schedule the ASVAB with no obligation to join, and many high schools offer it.
ASVAB
Understanding ASVAB ScoresOfficial ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)
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21 Oct 2026
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BLS
Military Careers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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How the ASVAB works
Training
Most first enlistments are 4 years. Basic training lasts 7 to 13 weeks, then technical school about 10 to 20 weeks for your military job.
BLS
Military Careers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
Checked
20 Oct 2026
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Enlisted age limits, from each service

ServiceAge to enlistAlso
Army17 to 42Minimum score on the Army's entrance test.
Army
Requirements to JoinU.S. Army (goarmy.com)
Checked
20 Oct 2026

Army says 17 to 42; the BLS military profile still says 35.

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Navy17 to 41Qualifying ASVAB score and the MEPS medical exam.
Navy
Requirements to Join the NavyU.S. Navy (navy.com)
Checked
20 Oct 2026

navy.com blocks automated readers (Cloudflare); read from the Internet Archive copy of 10 Aug 2025.

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Air Force17 until your 42nd birthday17 to 48 for healthcare or ministry professionals.
Air Force
Join the Air ForceU.S. Air Force (airforce.com)
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20 Oct 2026
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Marine Corps17 to 28High school diploma or GED; background check.
Marines
Enlistment RequirementsU.S. Marine Corps (marines.com)
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20 Oct 2026
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Space Force17 to 42U.S. citizen and a qualifying ASVAB score; apply through an Air Force recruiter.
Space Force
Enlisted GuardiansU.S. Space Force (spaceforce.com)
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20 Oct 2026
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Coast Guard17 to 41Over 41 only by waiver, for prior service enlisting at E-4 or higher (Coast Guard Recruiting Manual).
Coast Guard
COMDTINST 1100.2I, Coast Guard Recruiting (3 Jun 2025, rev 18 Jun 2025), ch 4U.S. Coast Guard
Checked
23 Oct 2026

media.defense.gov denies automated readers; read from the Internet Archive capture of 11 Oct 2026.

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Ways to become an officer

Officers typically need at least a bachelor's degree, U.S. citizenship, a background check and the physical and age rules; they do not take the ASVAB.

BLS
Military Careers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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RouteWhat it takes
Service academyA free bachelor's degree with a commission and typically a 5-year active-duty obligation. Candidates must be unmarried with no dependents and, except at the Coast Guard Academy, nominated, usually by a member of Congress.
BLS
Military Careers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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West Point (Army)U.S. citizen, 17 to 22 on 1 July of the admission year, unmarried, no legal duty to support children. SAT, ACT or CLT, a fitness assessment, a DoDMERB medical exam and a nomination from your Senators, Representative or the Vice President.
West Point
Steps to AdmissionUnited States Military Academy at West Point
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20 Oct 2026
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SAT ACT CLT
Naval Academy (Navy, Marine Corps)U.S. citizen by 1 July of the entry year, at least 17 and not past your 23rd birthday on 1 July, unmarried, no dependents; apply for a nomination.
USNA
Apply to USNAUnited States Naval Academy
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20 Oct 2026
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Coast Guard AcademyAdmission is on merit; congressional nominations are not required or considered.
USCGA
AdmissionsUnited States Coast Guard Academy
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20 Oct 2026
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ROTCRegular college classes plus 3 to 5 hours of military instruction a week; competitive 2-, 3- and 4-year scholarships. Graduates serve on active duty or in the Reserves or National Guard.
BLS
Military Careers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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OCS / OTSFor college graduates: several weeks of academic, physical and leadership training.
BLS
Military Careers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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Marine Corps officerA four-year college degree by commissioning, U.S. citizen, at least 20; talk to an Officer Selection Officer.
Marines
Enlistment RequirementsU.S. Marine Corps (marines.com)
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20 Oct 2026
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Direct appointmentLawyers (Judge Advocate General's Corps), chaplains and health professionals; the Uniformed Services University gives a free M.D. for at least 7 years of service.
BLS
Military Careers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
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20 Oct 2026
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Next door

Closely connected clusters

Advance CTE, from national labor market data: this cluster is most closely connected to these clusters.

Advance CTE
Public Service & Safety Career ClusterAdvance CTE
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20 Oct 2026
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All 14 Career Clusters

Every cluster with its sub-clusters, and which hubs are open.

See all clusters