WhatGradsMake
Associate+86% vs national median353 grads tracked

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services at Houston Community College

Ranked 1st of 359 associate programs in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$85,664
middle 50%: $55,978 – $114,693
Median · 5 years out
$99,334
middle 50%: $65,723 – $132,478
Median · 10 years out
$104,250
middle 50%: $73,614 – $122,538

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (associate) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Houston Community College graduates in protective services earn a high median of $86k in year one. Salaries reach $99k by year five and $104k by year ten.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
3.8 yrs
≈ $3,979 total interest

Same major at other universities

Weatherford College
$99,233 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Mountain College
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Prairie State College
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$85,997 · 5 yrs out
Red Rocks Community College
$85,863 · 5 yrs out
John Wood Community College
$85,023 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Mesa University
$84,259 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Midland College
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Tarrant County College District
$76,921 · 5 yrs out
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
$75,070 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Houston Community College

Fire Protection (Associate)
$124,854 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$97,476 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$94,228 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$93,807 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$87,244 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Science (Associate)
$87,244 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$85,242 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$84,025 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$82,991 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$82,328 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$80,200 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$79,428 · 5 yrs out

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