Retail Loss Prevention Specialists: Career Overview
Implement procedures and systems to prevent merchandise loss. Conduct audits and investigations of employee activity. May assist in developing policies, procedures, and systems for safeguarding assets.
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The Daily Work of Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of retail loss prevention specialists cover:
- Investigate known or suspected internal theft, external theft, or vendor fraud.
- Implement or monitor processes to reduce property or financial losses.
- Identify and report merchandise or stock shortages.
- Maintain documentation or reports on security-related incidents or investigations.
- Apprehend shoplifters in accordance with guidelines.
- Verify proper functioning of physical security systems, such as closed-circuit televisions, alarms, sensor tag systems, or locks.
- Identify and report safety concerns to maintain a safe shopping and working environment.
- Conduct store audits to identify problem areas or procedural deficiencies.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective retail loss prevention specialists combine 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
Common job titles for this role include:
- Asset Protection Agent
- Asset Protection Associate (APA)
- Asset Protection Coordinator
- Asset Protection Detective
- Asset Protection Greeter
- Asset Protection Investigator
- Asset Protection Manager
- Asset Protection Officer
Job Outlook
There are roughly 125,274 retail loss prevention specialists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -2.4% over the projection horizon.
Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $59,221 |
| Hourly median | $28.47 |
| 10th percentile | $39,483 |
| 25th percentile | $49,352 |
| 75th percentile | $69,090 |
| 90th percentile | $78,959 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $84,360 |
| New Hampshire | $83,510 |
| New Mexico | $66,640 |
| Rhode Island | $64,140 |
| Hawaii | $60,900 |
| New York | $59,830 |
| Maryland | $55,870 |
| Wisconsin | $55,660 |
| Nevada | $55,440 |
| Alaska | $55,370 |
| North Dakota | $53,480 |
| Nebraska | $53,350 |
| Missouri | $50,230 |
| Michigan | $49,670 |
| Arizona | $49,590 |
| Utah | $49,000 |
| Massachusetts | $47,840 |
| New Jersey | $47,370 |
| Mississippi | $46,800 |
| West Virginia | $46,760 |
| Wyoming | $46,520 |
| Minnesota | $46,190 |
| Florida | $45,700 |
| Idaho | $45,590 |
| Tennessee | $44,900 |
| Oregon | $44,590 |
| Georgia | $44,540 |
| Maine | $44,450 |
| Kansas | $44,250 |
| Oklahoma | $43,990 |
| Indiana | $43,570 |
| Colorado | $42,510 |
| South Dakota | $42,480 |
| Washington | $42,310 |
| North Carolina | $42,120 |
| Ohio | $41,730 |
| South Carolina | $41,600 |
| Iowa | $41,420 |
| Kentucky | $40,910 |
| Louisiana | $40,810 |
| Connecticut | $40,590 |
| California | $39,690 |
| Vermont | $39,560 |
| Montana | $39,560 |
| Delaware | $38,100 |
| Arkansas | $36,400 |
| Illinois | $35,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,260 |
| Alabama | $32,910 |
| Texas | $32,910 |
| Virginia | $32,080 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,540 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for retail loss prevention specialists shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains States | $47,094 | 2.4% | 0.46 |
| New England | $46,797 | 2.2% | 0.58 |
| Middle Atlantic | $45,319 | 13.5% | 1.20 |
| Great Lakes | $44,504 | 6.7% | 0.67 |
| Rocky Mountains | $43,422 | 8.2% | 2.75 |
| Far Western US | $41,224 | 38.4% | 2.35 |
| Southeast | $39,669 | 18.1% | 1.36 |
| Southwest | $38,782 | 9.9% | 0.84 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | NM | $100,210 | 390 |
| Vineland, NJ | NJ | $74,950 | 30 |
| Cheyenne, WY | WY | $74,050 | 30 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $61,850 | 80 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $61,710 | 90 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | FL | $61,410 | 80 |
| Medford, OR | OR | $61,020 | 50 |
| Albany, OR | OR | $60,900 | 70 |
Industry Breakdown
Most retail loss prevention specialists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 28,740 | $38,100 |
| Retail Trade | 3,290 | $41,970 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1,800 | $47,060 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,430 | $136,190 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,370 | $64,620 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,370 | $38,310 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,200 | $39,300 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 950 | $62,910 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field 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)
- Data base user interface and query software: Structured query language SQL (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of retail loss prevention specialists reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level retail loss prevention specialists positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Security Managers (Primary-Short)
- Emergency Management Directors (Supplemental)
- Compliance Managers (Primary-Short)
- Loss Prevention Managers (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Business Continuity Planners (Supplemental)
- Security Management Specialists (Supplemental)
- Financial Risk Specialists (Primary-Long)
About the Data
This profile draws on 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: 33-9099.02 (Protective Service Workers, All Other).
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