Coast Guard · PS
Your Port Security Specialist experience maps to civilian jobs like First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers and Security Guards—and well beyond. Explore the specific roles below, see what each pays and requires, and build from there.
The federal crosswalk lists only a broad “First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other” bucket for PS—so here are the specific civilian roles Port Security Specialist experience genuinely maps to. See what each involves, what it pays, and why it fits.
$54,580/yr mediantypical $37k–$87k~65K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards.
Why it fits: Leading security teams maps to security supervision.
$37,070/yr mediantypical $29k–$57k~1.2M U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — many openings
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules.
Why it fits: Physical-security duties transfer to security guard roles.
$72,280/yr mediantypical $45k–$112k~646K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances.
Why it fits: Enforcement and patrol experience support policing.
$50,020/yr mediantypical $40k–$63k~48K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Conduct screening of passengers, baggage, or cargo to ensure compliance with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations.
Why it fits: Screening and access control map to transportation security screening.
$63,450/yr mediantypical $41k–$100k~1.5M U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — many openings
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Port Security Specialist occupations on the administration & operations support side—a natural next step.
$75,820/yr mediantypical $46k–$119k~590K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Port Security Specialist occupations on the maintenance, repair & installation side—a natural next step.
$102,340/yr mediantypical $61k–$169k~131K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Port Security Specialist occupations on the management & project leadership side—a natural next step.
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of helpers, laborers, or material movers, hand.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Port Security Specialist occupations on the transportation & logistics side—a natural next step.
$79,590/yr mediantypical $44k–$140k~1.1M U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — many openings
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Conduct security assessments for organizations, and design security systems and processes.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Port Security Specialist occupations on the business & financial operations side—a natural next step.
$76,760/yr mediantypical $49k–$122k~777K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Port Security Specialist occupations on the construction & skilled trades side—a natural next step.
Roles selected from the O*NET occupations that fit Port Security Specialist experience; the Department of Labor's own crosswalk lists only the broad “First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other” category for this code. Pay is BLS OEWS (May 2023). See the O*NET crosswalk.
Use the level that reflects what you actually did—not rank alone. Two people with the same code and very different experience should not submit the same résumé.
Lead with your technical specialty and hands-on expertise—the systems, platforms, and problems you personally own as a technical authority.
Add technical leadership: advising commanders, managing complex systems or programs, integrating capabilities, and mentoring technicians.
Emphasize enterprise technical authority: strategy, standards, senior advising, and organization-wide technical leadership.
A translated title isn't enough. These four moves turn Port Security Specialist experience into evidence a civilian hiring manager can act on.
List the systems, vehicles, equipment, and tools you personally operated as Port Security Specialist—plus qualifications, certifications, and the recurring high-stakes tasks you owned.
Coast Guardsmen led, dollar value of equipment you were accountable for, workload, readiness rates, and safety or quality outcomes. Scope beats adjectives.
For any target role, name the license, degree, or software it requires and start now—your GI Bill and credentialing assistance can cover most of it.
Recruiters rarely search “PS.” Search job boards by the equipment, skills, and outcomes above as much as by “Port Security Specialist.”
You don't have to make this jump alone. These programs exist specifically to move service members into civilian careers—most are free, and several pay you while you train.
Train or intern with a civilian employer during your last ~180 days on active duty—at full military pay.
Earn a paycheck while you train for a trade or technical role; USMAP can credit the military training you already have.
Corporate fellowships and hiring events that place transitioning service members and military spouses.
Free career training and nationally recognized certifications for service members, veterans, and spouses.
VA-funded high-tech training (IT, cyber, data, software) that does not touch your GI Bill entitlement.
Free local career centers plus certification and state-by-state license finders for any field.
How to use this: Treat these as targets, not limits. Your exact duties depend on your assignments, so lead with what you actually did—and remember that regulated careers require their own license, certification, or degree.