# Retail Loss Prevention Specialists

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/retail-loss-prevention-specialists
- SOC code: 33-9099.02
- Career family: Protective service
- Median annual pay: $42,540 (10th percentile $32,470, 90th percentile $74,590)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.0%
- Openings a year: 22,600
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Protective service workers, all other".

## Interest profile (code CER)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 48 |
| Investigative (I) | 41 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 28 |
| Enterprising (E) | 63 |
| Conventional (C) | 78 |

## What you'd do

- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 86/100)
- Processing Information (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 84/100)
- Getting Information (importance 84/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 84/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 82/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 81/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 79/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 78/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 77/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

Public Safety and Security, English Language, Law and Government, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Administration and Management, Computers and Electronics, Personnel and Human Resources, Administrative, Mathematics

## Also called

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, Asset Protection Security Guard, Asset Protection Service Associate

## Related careers

- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Private Detectives and Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/private-detectives-and-investigators): $51,220 median pay
- [Security Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-managers): $106,660 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-security-workers): $55,940 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Financial Risk Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-risk-specialists): $117,330 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.