Protective Service: S-Corp Reasonable Salary Benchmarks
24 occupations, with medians from $33,580 to $106,040. 10 of them clear $60,000, roughly the point at which an S-corp election starts repaying its own overhead.
Protective service work is closely tied to scheduled hours and coverage. An owner-operator billing for coverage is being paid for time, which makes the hourly comparison the more natural one.
| Occupation | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $81,860 | $106,040 | $132,620 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $69,330 | $93,790 | $120,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $72,140 | $93,530 | $119,500 |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $68,990 | $90,230 | $119,290 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $59,890 | $77,970 | $103,320 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $52,400 | $76,400 | $92,890 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,290 | $76,210 | $97,600 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $58,690 | $75,920 | $95,120 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $61,430 | $74,060 | $89,110 |
| Transportation Security Screeners | $57,050 | $66,770 | $72,820 |
| Firefighters (below the S-corp threshold) | $44,490 | $59,280 | $77,250 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers (below the S-corp threshold) | $48,640 | $58,940 | $75,850 |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists (below the S-corp threshold) | $43,760 | $56,870 | $81,500 |
| Bailiffs (below the S-corp threshold) | $43,720 | $56,600 | $74,630 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $45,030 | $55,940 | $71,950 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators (below the S-corp threshold) | $40,700 | $51,220 | $73,990 |
| Parking Enforcement Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,870 | $46,730 | $60,490 |
| Animal Control Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,750 | $45,660 | $57,060 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,270 | $43,370 | $49,210 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other (below the S-corp threshold) | $35,420 | $42,540 | $54,910 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers (below the S-corp threshold) | $34,430 | $38,100 | $47,540 |
| Security Guards (below the S-corp threshold) | $35,210 | $38,020 | $46,200 |
| School Bus Monitors (below the S-corp threshold) | $31,760 | $35,100 | $37,760 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $28,880 | $33,580 | $37,520 |
What is a reasonable salary for a protective service S-corp owner?
It depends on the specific occupation, which is why the table lists all 24 separately instead of giving one number for the group. 10 carry a median at or above $60,000, roughly where an S-corp election starts repaying its overhead. Medians here run $33,580 to $106,040.
National figures, and a percentile is evidence rather than an answer.Model your own state and profit, or see all occupation groups.