Protective service associate professionals n.e.c.: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time protective service associate professionals n.e.c. in the UK earned a median £44,007 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £4,968 above the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That ranks 104th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £35,435 and £54,944.
Median full-time pay: women £42,202 a year, men £45,368 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 40,000 employee jobs, 85% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 29.0% (from £34,110), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 98,800 people in this line of work, 18% of them in South East.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £28,282 | £584.40 | £14.19 | £22,807* | £466.20 | £14.09 |
| 20th percentile | £32,220 | £627.00 | £16.47 | £29,087 | £590.30 | £16.31 |
| 25th percentile | £35,435 | £655.00 | £17.22 | £31,627 | £609.80 | £16.99 |
| 30th percentile | £36,739 | £699.20 | £17.99 | £32,316 | £635.30 | £17.79 |
| 40th percentile | £40,763 | £769.40 | £19.55 | £37,128 | £721.70 | £19.49 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £44,007 | £822.60 | £21.75 | £41,592 | £790.80 | £21.25 |
| 60th percentile | £46,696 | £874.30 | £23.61 | £45,214 | £850.00 | £23.34 |
| 70th percentile | £50,792 | £964.70 | £25.26 | £49,778 | £933.90 | £24.77 |
| 75th percentile | £54,944* | £1,032.00 | £27.11 | £51,765 | £994.70 | £26.00 |
| 80th percentile | £59,337* | £1,129.80* | £29.62* | £56,709* | £1,083.70* | £28.62* |
| Mean | £47,413 | £920.70 | £23.95 | £44,240 | £861.70 | £23.83 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £34,110 | £681.20 | £18.09 | £33,050 | £671.90 | 25* |
| 2022 revised | £36,487 | £700.90 | £18.57 | £35,704 | £697.00 | 29 |
| 2023 revised | £39,425 | £742.80 | £19.02 | £38,518 | £728.20 | 36 |
| 2024 revised | £41,035 | £813.40 | £21.58 | £40,478 | £798.10 | 40 |
| 2025 provisional | £44,007 | £822.60 | £21.75 | £41,592 | £790.80 | 40 |
Protective service associate professionals n.e.c. by region
UK: 98,800 (± 12,200), April 2025 to March 2026. 8 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| South East | 17,400* | ± 5,200 |
| Scotland | 12,300* | ± 4,000 |
| North West | 11,900* | ± 4,200 |
| Wales | 6,800* | ± 2,300 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What protective service associate professionals n.e.c. do
Job holders in this unit group inspect goods to ensure compliance with regulations concerning payment of duty, establish that persons entering and leaving the UK have necessary authorisation for crossing national borders, monitor maritime conditions, undertake search and rescue operations, plan and coordinate services of private detective agencies and security measures for individuals, establishments or organisations, investigates activities such as fraud and other crimes, and perform other security and protective service occupations not elsewhere classified in minor group 331: Protective service occupations. (ONS SOC 2020, 3319)
Also covers: crime scene investigator, customs officer, immigration officer, investigation officer (police service), fingerprint expert, fraud analyst, operations manager (security services), private investigator, security manager, branch manager, CCTV manager, CCTV officer, civil investigator, civilian investigator, coast guard, coastguard officer, contract manager and credit investigator (79 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Examines, weighs and counts goods imported by ship or aircraft, ensures that the declared value of goods is satisfactory, and that duties and taxes have been paid
- Examines passports, visas, work permits and other immigration documents, and allows or refuses entry into the UK
- Maintains revenue control at breweries, tobacco factories and other premises where dutiable goods are manufactured, processed or stored
- Visits racecourses, greyhound stadiums and betting shops to ensure compliance with legal requirements
- Broadcasts information on weather and maritime conditions, monitors shipping and provides instruction to navigators
- Receives distress messages, alerts other appropriate rescue services and participates in search and rescue operations
These posts have varying entry requirements. Some posts require no academic qualifications whereas others require GCSEs/S grades and/or relevant practical experience. Entry to some occupations is followed by periods of assessed probationary training and professional examinations.
Related
Protective service occupations · Prison service officers (below principal officer) · Fire service officers (watch manager and below) · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026