The public safety and government sector offers a broad range of career paths for those inspired to make the North Far North region a safer and more equitable place to live, work, and raise a family.
In addition to the public safety and administrative needs related to the criminal justice system, California also has needs related to the increasingly severe effects of climate change. For example, each year, wildfires threaten the lives and livelihoods of Californians statewide. The state has recently invested heavily in wildfire response and prevention programs. Implementing these initiatives will require a workforce trained in forest and wildlife management, horticulture, and fire science and technology, to name a few.
Other high-demand public safety and government occupations include social workers, EMTs and paramedics, bookkeepers and accountants, correctional officers, and administrative assistants. Whether your interest lies in the administration of justice or helping to manage our natural resources, a valuable career in public service is waiting for you.
View data from the:
How much will I make per hour?
| What can I train for? | Job openings per year | Entry-level | Median | Experienced | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 609 | $37.68 | $47.18 | $59.86 | View programs |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 237 | $29.19 | $36.87 | $47.52 | View programs |
| Firefighters | 181 | $30.10 | $38.51 | $46.43 | View programs |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 124 | $37.85 | $48.28 | $60.36 | View programs |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 90 | $59.29 | $64.05 | $80.01 | View programs |
| Public Safety Telecommunicators | 70 | $27.90 | $35.01 | $38.20 | View programs |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | 53 | $48.21 | $48.76 | $61.06 | View programs |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | 43 | $39.89 | $48.81 | $62.06 | View programs |
| Fish and Game Wardens | 42 | $35.71 | $40.06 | $43.60 | |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 32 | $18.73 | $24.71 | $32.92 | View programs |
| Transit and Railroad Police | 29 | $18.90 | $26.53 | $35.38 |
Source: Lightcast 2022.3; QCEW, non-QCEW, Self-Employed. Compiled by the North/Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research.
The North region encompasses seven counties (El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba).
The Far North region encompasses 15 counties (Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity).
Specialized skills are specific to the occupation, or group of occupations, and represent job-specific competencies.
Technical skills refer to the specific software and technology regularly encountered on the job.
Employability skills (sometimes referred to as “common skills”) are foundational skills that cross occupations and industries. Many common skills, like, communication and team work, are also considered soft skills.