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Retail Loss Prevention Specialists: Career Profile
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.
What Tasks Do Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of retail loss prevention specialists include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective retail loss prevention specialists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- 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
Employment and Demand
There are about 125,274 retail loss prevention specialists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -2.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
| 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
Where Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Earn the Most
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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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
The largest employers of 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.
Software Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Use
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for 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
Education and Training
Most 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), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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)
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced 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: 33-9099.02 (Protective Service Workers, All Other).
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