EKU Online > Online Homeland Security Degrees & Certificates > Homeland Security Career Opportunities

Take Your Place Within the Second Largest Federal Agency in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is currently the second largest federal agency in the U.S., comprised of 22 agencies and employing over 200,000 people. Homeland security offers a diverse a range of employment opportunities. The field is ideal for individuals aspiring to work in local, state or federal law enforcement agencies; corporate or public sector security; local, state or federal government, and for military personnel of all ranks. Graduates of EKU’s online homeland security program have a competitive edge in the job market and are prepared to work in a number of private and public sectors.

Advanced education is increasingly important in the diverse fields that make up homeland security. EKU offers one of the few programs in the nation based on curriculum developed by the Homeland Security and Defense Education Consortium and the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security. The Bureau of Labor  Statistics (BLS) projects protective service occupations to grow 2 percent from 2021 to 2031, which will result in about 72,600 new jobs.

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Increase earnings and advancement opportunities

Career Success Starts with a College Degree

Regardless of U.S. labor market conditions one constant holds true: Education boosts earnings and reduces unemployment.

According to the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU) the earnings gap between college graduates and those with less education continues to widen. In 2021, median income for recent graduates reached $52,000 a year for bachelor’s degree holders aged 22–27. For high school graduates the same age, median earnings were $30,000 a year.

Those with a bachelor’s degree earn, on average, 75% more over the course of their lifetime.* In addition to increased earning potential, a bachelor’s degree can provide opportunities for promotion or entry into a new career.

*Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce

People with a bachelor’s degree earn on average

+0%
more over their lifetime than those with only a high school diploma

Popular Homeland Security Careers

Emergency Management Director

National Median Annual Salary
$76,730/year
3% growth increase thru 2031
Local Estimated Base Salary
$78,630/year
Updated April 2023
Organizations for Emergency Service Managers in Kentucky:
Sunrise Hotel
$121,722
Swedish Medical Center
$105,061
Bachelor typically required for advancement and select civilian positions

Information Security Analyst

National Median Annual Salary
$102,600/year
35% growth increase thru 2031
Local Estimated Base Salary
$71,415/year
Updated April 2023
Organizations for Information Security Analyst in Kentucky:
United Parcel Service
$92,000
Baird
$74,100
S & P Global
$48,200
Bachelor typically required for advancement and select civilian positions

Police Officer/Detective

National Median Annual Salary
$66,020/year
3% growth increase thru 2031
Local Estimated Base Salary
$49,248/year
Updated April 2023
Highest Paying Cities for Police Officers in Kentucky:
City of Louisville, KY
$53,472
City of Paducah, KY
$53,361
City of Covington, KY
$48,468
Bachelor typically required for advancement and select civilian positions

*National job opportunities data is based on national medians and figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational outlook handbook.
*Local job opportunities data is based on estimated base pay and figures from Indeed.com.

Other Homeland Security Careers

  • Air Marshal
  • ATF Special Agent
  • Business Continuity Specialist
  • Counterterrorism Analyst
  • Criminal Investigator/Detective
  • Critical Infrastructure Analyst
  • Customs and Border Patrol Agents
  • Disaster Resilience Coordinator
  • Emergency Manager
  • FBI Agent
  • Geospatial Analyst
  • Immigration Services Officer
  • Intelligence Analyst
  • IT-Cyber Security Specialist
  • Risk Analyst
  • Secret Service Special Agent
  • Telecommunications Specialist
  • Transportation Security Officer

EKU Homeland Security Program in the Workforce

Where Have EKU Homeland Security Graduates Worked?
  • Marathon Petroleum-Marine Transportation
  • Hackensack Meridian Health
  • Miami County Emergency Management Agency
  • Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
  • United States Army civilian Bluegrass Chemical Activity
  • The Olson Group, Ltd Homeland Security and Emergency Management Consultants
  • Indiana University Health
Why Choose EKU’s Homeland Security Degree?

Homeland security encompasses more than just border patrol and counterterrorism — disaster response, cybersecurity, and law enforcement all fit under the discipline. Whether you want to serve your local community or the nation at large, EKU’s homeland security degree offers numerous opportunities at every level of government — local, state, and federal, as well as private companies and nonprofits.

What makes EKU’s Homeland Security program unique?
The program differentiates itself from other programs in the U.S. by offering a standalone bachelor of science degree with specialization opportunities in disaster management, security operations management, and intelligence studies.

Where can a person work who earns a Homeland Security degree?
About 25% enter federal, state, or local law enforcement while another 20% go into emergency management. We have students in the CIA, the FBI, the NSA and some who work in the private sector for large Fortune 500 companies. There are also graduates who enter the military after their studies. With this degree, there are a host of opportunities in the job market.

What makes this institution so special?
Eastern Kentucky University is a wonderful institution of higher education. We have the programs and opportunities of a large institution, but we also couple that with the attention and focus of a smaller institution and that’s a rare find these days.

EKU Online Career Services

Career planning is tough, but with EKU you don’t have to tackle the process alone.

The EKU Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all of your career and professional development needs. We offer a variety of services to current online EKU students and alumni to help you with your career development, decision-making and job search.

Services include:

  • Creating/Updating Your Resume and Cover Letter
  • Interviewing Tips and Coaching
  • Career Documents Review
  • Job Search
  • “I can confidently say that — as someone who doesn’t even live in the United States — EKU’s online program has been extremely accommodating and flexible. I can discuss advising appointments over email, and I can have my textbooks shipped to my address overseas.” – Sydney Garner Lewis
  • “After the birth of our first child, I knew I needed to go back and finish what I started,” said McKenzie. “I was happy that I could pick up where I left off at EKU even though I lived in a different state.” – EKU Online student and mom
  • “I chose EKU because I am a unique student with unique needs, and EKU provides an avenue for students like me to succeed.” – EKU Online Psychology student Jason Tate
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