Parking Enforcement Workers: Career Profile
Patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.
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The Daily Work of Parking Enforcement Workers Do?
The core tasks performed by parking enforcement workers include:
- Enter and retrieve information pertaining to vehicle registration, identification, and status, using hand-held computers.
- Patrol an assigned area by vehicle or on foot to ensure public compliance with existing parking ordinance.
- Write warnings and citations for illegally parked vehicles.
- Appear in court at hearings regarding contested traffic citations.
- Maintain assigned equipment and supplies, such as hand-held citation computers, citation books, rain gear, tire-marking chalk, and street cones.
- Respond to and make radio dispatch calls regarding parking violations and complaints.
- Maintain close communications with dispatching personnel, using two-way radios or cell phones.
- Perform simple vehicle maintenance procedures, such as checking oil and gas, and report mechanical problems to supervisors.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective parking enforcement workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Civilian Pay Technician (Civilian Pay Tech)
- Enforcement Officer
- Enforcement Safety Officer
- Meter Maid
- Parking Control Officer
- Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO)
- Parking Enforcement Specialist
- Parking Enforcement Technician
Job Outlook
There are roughly 438,832 parking enforcement workers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -0.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Parking Enforcement Workers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $45,624 |
| Hourly median | $21.93 |
| 10th percentile | $29,581 |
| 25th percentile | $37,602 |
| 75th percentile | $53,645 |
| 90th percentile | $61,667 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $70,310 |
| California | $66,200 |
| Connecticut | $62,090 |
| Oregon | $60,220 |
| Nevada | $55,120 |
| Utah | $53,020 |
| Massachusetts | $50,640 |
| Vermont | $50,570 |
| Colorado | $49,410 |
| New York | $48,050 |
| Iowa | $47,760 |
| New Hampshire | $47,480 |
| Illinois | $47,150 |
| Florida | $47,040 |
| Maryland | $47,020 |
| Virginia | $46,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,220 |
| Maine | $45,670 |
| Montana | $44,620 |
| Ohio | $44,520 |
| South Carolina | $43,550 |
| New Jersey | $43,430 |
| Wisconsin | $43,090 |
| Kansas | $42,480 |
| Minnesota | $42,160 |
| Indiana | $41,500 |
| Oklahoma | $41,150 |
| Arizona | $40,510 |
| North Carolina | $39,970 |
| Delaware | $39,910 |
| Missouri | $39,510 |
| Michigan | $38,990 |
| Alabama | $38,990 |
| Texas | $38,290 |
| Georgia | $36,470 |
| Idaho | $34,790 |
| Tennessee | $32,920 |
| West Virginia | $29,100 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for parking enforcement workers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $66,096 | 23.9% | 1.49 |
| New England | $50,481 | 6.8% | 1.72 |
| Middle Atlantic | $46,020 | 26.4% | 1.87 |
| Rocky Mountains | $45,856 | 3.4% | 0.95 |
| Great Lakes | $44,753 | 16.7% | 1.65 |
| Southeast | $43,864 | 13.5% | 0.81 |
| Plains States | $42,165 | 3.4% | 0.59 |
| Southwest | $38,910 | 5.9% | 0.51 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Parking Enforcement Workers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $85,090 | 480 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $76,030 | 130 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $75,910 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $72,700 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $63,860 | 480 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $62,730 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $61,480 | 110 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $58,820 | 350 |
Industry Breakdown
Most parking enforcement workers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 850 | $41,140 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 160 | $39,070 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 120 | $39,430 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 80 | $39,680 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 30 | $52,210 |
Below are examples of industries where parking enforcement workers work:
Tools and 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)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for parking enforcement workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How to Become Parking Enforcement Workers
Entry-level parking enforcement workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Compliance Officers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (Supplemental)
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (Supplemental)
- Transit and Railroad Police (Primary-Short)
- Security Guards (Primary-Short)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers (Primary-Long)
- Transportation Security Screeners (Supplemental)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Primary-Long)
References
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: 33-3041.00 (Parking Enforcement Workers).