# Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators

> Observe gambling operation for irregular activities such as cheating or theft by either employees or patrons. Investigate potential threats to gambling assets such as money, chips, and gambling equipment. Act as oversight and security agent for management and customers.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gambling-surveillance-officers-and-gambling-investigators
- SOC code: 33-9031.00
- Career family: Protective service
- Median annual pay: $43,370 (10th percentile $32,730, 90th percentile $61,970)
- Projected growth: Decline, -1.8%
- Openings a year: 1,100
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CER)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 52 |
| Investigative (I) | 19 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 19 |
| Enterprising (E) | 63 |
| Conventional (C) | 77 |

## What you'd do

- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 95/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 91/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 90/100)
- Getting Information (importance 90/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 90/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 89/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 85/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 81/100)
- Processing Information (importance 77/100)

## Skills

Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Social Perceptiveness, Writing, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

English Language, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Administrative, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Telecommunications, Psychology

## Also called

Armed Security Officer, Casino Enforcement Agent, Casino Investigator, Casino Security Officer, Casino Surveillance Officer, Dual Rate Surveillance Officer, EMT Security Officer (Emergency Medical Technician Security Officer), Entertainment And Recreation Industry Surveillance Operator, Gambling Monitor, Gambling Surveillance Observer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Criminal Justice and Corrections](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4301) (CIP 4301, 1,742 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Calumet College of Saint Joseph](https://www.collegesref.com/college/calumet-college-of-saint-joseph-380) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,078 | $106,465 | $20,417 |
| [National University-California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/national-university-california-1825) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $66,056 | $81,299 | $25,000 |
| [Fisher College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fisher-college-957) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $48,983 | $80,136 | $26,875 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,080 | $80,070 | $19,500 |
| [Saint Mary's University of Minnesota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-mary-s-university-of-minnesota-2317) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $62,842 | $79,464 | not reported |
| [Quinnipiac University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/quinnipiac-university-2168) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $42,494 | $79,098 | $23,375 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $41,941 | $77,477 | $17,750 |
| [Anna Maria College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/anna-maria-college-82) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,753 | $76,013 | $26,500 |

## Related careers

- [Security Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-management-specialists): $83,050 median pay
- [Security Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-managers): $106,660 median pay
- [Digital Forensics Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/digital-forensics-analysts): $116,580 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-security-workers): $55,940 median pay
- [Private Detectives and Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/private-detectives-and-investigators): $51,220 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-gambling-services-workers): $63,820 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.