Ranked list · updated 2026-10-09
Highest-paying government & public safety credentials
18 government & public safety credentials are ranked below by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. Every figure is quoted from the source named inside that credential's own guide, and the exam fee shown beside it comes from the awarding body.
- Credentials ranked
- 18
- Exam fees
- $300–$300
- Field
- Government & Public Safety
Which government & public safety credentials lead to the highest published pay?
The 18 credentials below are ordered by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. The order is computed from the researched guides; the sentence printed for each credential is that guide's own sourced headline, reproduced verbatim so its attribution stays attached to the number.
| # | Credential | Published median for the occupation it unlocks (quoted) | Exam fee | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FAA Air Traffic Controller Selection | $144,580 median for air traffic controllers (BLS, May 2024) — among the highest-paid federal civilian occupations, gated by an aptitude screen, not a test of aviation knowledge | No fee (FAA hiring process) | 2026-08 |
| 2 | NIMS ICS-100 | ICS-100 is a required baseline for many emergency-response roles: emergency management directors earned a $86,130 median in May 2024 (BLS) | Free | 2026-08 |
| 3 | NIMS ICS-200 | ICS-200 builds the supervisory tier of the response workforce: emergency management directors earned a $86,130 median in May 2024 (BLS) | Free | 2026-08 |
| 4 | NIMS ICS-300 | No direct occupation — but ICS-300 is required for most supervisory and command roles, where emergency management directors earn a median of $86,130 (BLS, May 2024) | Usually employer-sponsored | 2026-08 |
| 5 | NIMS ICS-400 | $86,130 median for emergency management directors (SOC 11-9161, BLS May 2024) | Provider-dependent | 2026-08 |
| 6 | NIMS ICS-700 | IS-700 is the NIMS baseline required across the response workforce: emergency management directors earned a $86,130 median in May 2024 (BLS) | Free | 2026-08 |
| 7 | NIMS ICS-800 | No direct occupation — IS-800 (National Response Framework) is a FEMA training course required in many emergency-management and public-safety roles, where emergency management directors earn a median of $86,130 (BLS, May 2024) | Free (FEMA EMI) | 2026-08 |
| 8 | Law Enforcement Physical Ability Test | $76,290 median for police and sheriff’s patrol officers — the occupation a passing PAT unlocks (BLS, May 2024) | No separate fee typically | 2026-08 |
| 9 | National Police Officer Selection Test | $76,290 median for police and sheriff’s patrol officers (SOC 33-3051, BLS May 2024) | Department-dependent | 2026-08 |
| 10 | NYC DCAS Civil Service Exam | DCAS exams are the gate to NYC public employment: police officers earned a $76,290 median and firefighters $59,530 in May 2024 (BLS) | Varies by title | 2026-08 |
| 11 | NYPD Police Officer Exam | $76,290 median for police and sheriff’s patrol officers (BLS, May 2024) | Free | 2026-08 |
| 12 | Pro Board Firefighter I | $59,530 median for firefighters (SOC 33-2011, BLS May 2024) | Varies by academy | 2026-08 |
| 13 | Corrections Officer Entrance Exam | $57,950 median for correctional officers and jailers (BLS May 2024) — employment declining 7%, but ~31,900 openings a year from replacement | Department-dependent | 2026-08 |
| 14 | USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 474 | Postal service workers earned a May 2024 BLS median of $57,870, and passing the VEA 474 is the screening gate for mail-carrier roles at the USPS. | Free — no registration fee; the exam is included in the USPS application | 2026-08 |
| 15 | USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 475 | Postal service workers earned a May 2024 BLS median of $57,870, and passing the VEA 475 is the screening gate for mail-handler roles at the USPS. | Free — no registration fee; the exam is included in the USPS application | 2026-08 |
| 16 | USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 476 | Postal service workers earned a May 2024 BLS median of $57,870, and passing the VEA 476 is the screening gate for mail-processing clerk roles at the USPS. | Free — no registration fee; the exam is included in the USPS application | 2026-08 |
| 17 | USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 477 | Postal service clerks earned a May 2024 median of $55,640, and passing the VEA 477 is the screening gate for Sales and Services Associate and PSE Sales and Services/Distribution Associate roles at the USPS. | Free — no registration fee; the exam is included in the USPS application | 2026-08 |
| 18 | Emergency Medical Dispatch | EMD certification is the standard for 911 dispatch roles: public safety telecommunicators earned a mean of about $48,670 in May 2024 (BLS) | $300-$800 | 2026-08 |
What does this ranking actually measure?
Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks, most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.
Each row also carries the month its guide was last checked against the primary source, so you can see how current the figure is before you rely on it. Fees and pass rules change; the guide linked from every row carries the authoritative reference.
Where does this field sit in the site-wide ranking?
The main ranking pools all 424 credential-with-median pairs across 15 fields, so a credential that leads this page may still sit outside the site-wide top 25 — and a credential outside this page's top few may rank highly overall. Use whichever view matches the question you are answering.
- All fields, site-wide ranking 424 ranked
- Accounting & Tax 8 ranked
- Admissions & Academic Testing 33 ranked
- Allied Health & Medical Support 43 ranked
- Finance & Securities 20 ranked
- Fitness, Wellness & Personal Care 27 ranked
- Food Safety & Hospitality 17 ranked
- Healthcare & Clinical Licensure 10 ranked
- Insurance & Risk 7 ranked
- IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity 122 ranked
- Project Management & Business 22 ranked
- Teaching & Education 42 ranked
- Trades, Construction & Engineering 24 ranked
- Transportation & Aviation 16 ranked
- Workplace Safety 15 ranked
Frequently asked questions
How many government & public safety credentials are ranked here?
18 of this field's published guides carry a citable occupation median and are ranked below. Site-wide, 424 credentials across 15 fields are ranked, so this page is a subset of the main list rather than an alternative to it.
What does a government & public safety credential cost to attempt?
Exam fees across this field's ranked credentials run from about $300 to $300. Fee is what the exam costs to sit; the median quoted for each row is what the occupation pays once you hold the credential, and the two do not move together.
Is the highest-paying government & public safety credential the right one to start with?
Not necessarily. The ranking orders by the median for the occupation each credential unlocks, and several of the credentials here are sequential steps in the same career path rather than competing alternatives — one may be the prerequisite for another on this list. Read the guide for a credential's eligibility rules before treating its position here as a starting recommendation.
Why is a credential I expected to see missing?
Only credentials with a published occupation median appear. A credential whose guide does not carry a citable median is left out rather than estimated, and any credential whose researched text marks its exam as retired, withdrawn or no longer obtainable is removed — pointing at a dead exam in a recommendation list would be actively misleading.