Protective Service Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a protective service workers, all other in Pittsburgh, PA is $36,080/year ($17.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.67), which stretches that salary to about $38,111 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,299/month, about 51.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Pittsburgh?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Pittsburgh’s Regional Price Parity (94.67). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About protective service workers, all others
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What this looks like in Pittsburgh
Pay for protective service workers, all other in Pittsburgh runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $43K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,299/month, which is 52.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.67 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for protective service workers, all others.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for protective service workers, all others in metros near Pittsburgh, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | $34K | $35K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $35K | $34K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $38K | $38K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $30K | $31K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pittsburgh, PA
Entry-level protective service workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Protective Service Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Protective Service Workers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $89K | +109% | 90 |
| District of Columbia | $89K | +108% | 80 |
| Alabama | $86K | +103% | 330 |
| New Mexico | $65K | +53% | 650 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | +35% | 910 |
| Vermont | $57K | +35% | 60 |
| Hawaii | $57K | +35% | 110 |
| Alaska | $56K | +32% | 400 |
| New Jersey | $55K | +29% | 3,520 |
| Nevada | $55K | +29% | 910 |
| Rhode Island | $55K | +28% | 60 |
| North Dakota | $53K | +26% | 230 |
| Maryland | $53K | +24% | 930 |
| New York | $53K | +24% | 1,930 |
| Oklahoma | $52K | +23% | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | +18% | 610 |
| Maine | $50K | +17% | 170 |
| Mississippi | $50K | +17% | 180 |
| Michigan | $50K | +17% | 730 |
| Utah | $50K | +17% | 910 |
| Oregon | $50K | +16% | 2,180 |
| Missouri | $49K | +16% | 240 |
| Arizona | $49K | +15% | 970 |
| Indiana | $48K | +13% | 240 |
| Nebraska | $47K | +11% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $47K | +9% | 540 |
| Idaho | $47K | +9% | 170 |
| Georgia | $45K | +6% | 1,260 |
| Ohio | $45K | +6% | 1,520 |
| Louisiana | $44K | +4% | 2,370 |
| Colorado | $44K | +4% | 4,640 |
| Florida | $44K | +4% | 2,790 |
| South Carolina | $44K | +4% | 320 |
| Tennessee | $44K | +4% | 830 |
| North Carolina | $44K | +3% | 790 |
| West Virginia | $44K | +3% | 170 |
| South Dakota | $42K | -1% | 130 |
| Washington | $42K | -1% | 4,530 |
| Kansas | $42K | -1% | 300 |
| Montana | $42K | -2% | 310 |
| Wyoming | $40K | -5% | 590 |
| Delaware | $40K | -7% | 130 |
| California | $39K | -8% | 26,360 |
| Minnesota | $38K | -10% | 670 |
| Iowa | $38K | -10% | N/A |
| Illinois | $38K | -11% | 600 |
| Connecticut | $37K | -12% | 910 |
| Virginia | $35K | -17% | 4,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $34K | -19% | 5,720 |
| Texas | $34K | -21% | 4,360 |
| Arkansas | $31K | -26% | 560 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track protective service workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pittsburgh numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a protective service workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pittsburgh?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 52.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,299/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for protective service workers, all others in Pittsburgh?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new protective service workers, all others typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,459/month. At HUD’s $1,299/month FMR, rent would take 89% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is protective service workers, all other a high-paying job in Pittsburgh?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $36K here vs. $43K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pittsburgh compare to the national average for protective service workers, all others?
Pittsburgh pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do protective service workers, all others make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median is $36,080 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,320, and experienced protective service workers, all others can clear $53,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Pittsburgh?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,493/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,299/month, which eats 52.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a protective service workers, all other salary go in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a Regional Price Parity of 94.67 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median protective service workers, all other salary is worth about $38,111 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do protective service workers, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.