Loss Prevention Managers: Career Overview
Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.
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The Daily Work of Loss Prevention Managers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of loss prevention managers cover:
- Coordinate or conduct internal investigations of problems such as employee theft and violations of corporate loss prevention policies.
- Administer systems and programs to reduce loss, maintain inventory control, or increase safety.
- Review loss prevention exception reports and cash discrepancies to ensure adherence to guidelines.
- Train loss prevention staff, retail managers, or store employees on loss control and prevention measures.
- Investigate or interview individuals suspected of shoplifting or internal theft.
- Provide recommendations and solutions in crisis situations such as workplace violence, protests, and demonstrations.
- Identify potential for loss and develop strategies to eliminate it.
- Hire or supervise loss prevention staff.
What Loss Prevention Managers Need to Know
Effective loss prevention managers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Loss Prevention Managers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Area Asset Protection Manager
- Area Loss Prevention Manager
- Asset Protection Leader
- Asset Protection Manager
- Asset Protection Supervisor
- Asset Protection and Safety Manager
- Asset Safety Manager
- District Asset Protection Manager
How Many Loss Prevention Managers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 259,400 loss prevention managers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +2.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Loss Prevention Managers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $165,723 |
| Hourly median | $79.67 |
| 10th percentile | $113,120 |
| 25th percentile | $139,422 |
| 75th percentile | $192,024 |
| 90th percentile | $218,325 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Loss Prevention Managers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $172,380 |
| District of Columbia | $171,910 |
| California | $170,740 |
| Delaware | $170,310 |
| Washington | $165,080 |
| Colorado | $164,010 |
| New Jersey | $163,630 |
| Virginia | $162,610 |
| New York | $161,360 |
| Minnesota | $158,680 |
| Connecticut | $149,690 |
| Maryland | $148,680 |
| Rhode Island | $147,240 |
| New Hampshire | $142,650 |
| Illinois | $134,810 |
| Texas | $133,070 |
| Michigan | $133,040 |
| Arizona | $132,040 |
| North Carolina | $131,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $129,170 |
| Iowa | $127,680 |
| New Mexico | $127,060 |
| Ohio | $126,600 |
| West Virginia | $126,250 |
| Oklahoma | $124,800 |
| Oregon | $124,190 |
| Maine | $123,950 |
| Vermont | $123,930 |
| Alaska | $123,160 |
| Kentucky | $123,010 |
| Hawaii | $122,520 |
| Georgia | $120,810 |
| South Carolina | $120,640 |
| Kansas | $118,310 |
| North Dakota | $118,010 |
| Wyoming | $117,060 |
| Missouri | $117,050 |
| Alabama | $116,830 |
| Nebraska | $114,050 |
| South Dakota | $111,630 |
| Idaho | $107,800 |
| Montana | $105,840 |
| Wisconsin | $105,690 |
| Florida | $102,670 |
| Louisiana | $100,890 |
| Nevada | $99,590 |
| Mississippi | $97,780 |
| Guam | $97,210 |
| Virgin Islands | $92,270 |
| Tennessee | $88,110 |
| Arkansas | $84,610 |
| Indiana | $79,080 |
| Puerto Rico | $78,740 |
Where Loss Prevention Managers Earn the Most
Earnings for loss prevention managers shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $160,982 | 22.6% | 1.34 |
| New England | $156,233 | 3.9% | 0.83 |
| Middle Atlantic | $153,807 | 17.6% | 2.07 |
| Southwest | $132,453 | 11.2% | 0.90 |
| Plains States | $126,095 | 4.1% | 0.64 |
| Southeast | $116,490 | 29.4% | 1.35 |
| Rocky Mountains | $112,945 | 3.8% | 1.01 |
| Great Lakes | $112,898 | 6.4% | 0.72 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Loss Prevention Managers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $215,120 | 13,530 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $203,030 | 22,980 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | ME | $190,070 | 100 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $175,070 | 400 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $174,840 | 9,240 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $173,490 | 1,080 |
| Binghamton, NY | NY | $171,190 | 190 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $168,750 | 7,580 |
Which Industries Hire Loss Prevention Managers
Most loss prevention managers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 94,490 | $164,060 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 50,980 | $163,830 |
| Manufacturing | 46,390 | $160,640 |
| Finance and Insurance | 44,890 | $162,780 |
| Information | 38,680 | $167,740 |
| Educational Services | 32,840 | $102,450 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 32,500 | $109,990 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 31,360 | $108,810 |
Loss Prevention Managers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Office suite software: Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: MySQL (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for loss prevention managers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Getting Started in This Career
Most loss prevention managers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Security Managers (Primary-Short)
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Emergency Management Directors (Primary-Long)
- Compliance Managers (Primary-Short)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring loss prevention managers commonly pursue programs in:
Social Sciences
40 programs across 14 majors
- Economics
- Political Science & Government
- Sociology
- General Social Sciences
- International Relations & Security
- Anthropology
- Criminology
- Geography & Cartography
- Other Social Sciences
- Urban Studies
- Sociology & Anthropology
- Archeology
- Demography & Population Studies
- Geography and Anthropology
Psychology
28 programs across 4 majors
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
15 programs across 5 majors
- Business Administration & Management
- Business & Commerce
- Entrepreneurial Studies
- Hospitality Management
- Telecommunications Management
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
12 programs across 10 majors
- Systems Theory
- History and Language/Literature
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- Digital Humanities and Textual Studies
- Economics and Computer Science
- History and Political Science
- Historic Preservation
- Geoarcheaology
- Linguistics and Anthropology
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
9 programs across 4 majors
History
9 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-9199.08 (Managers, All Other).