SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 33-9031.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $32,730 | $2,728 | $629 | $15.74 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $36,270 | $3,022 | $698 | $17.44 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $43,370 | $3,614 | $834 | $20.85 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $49,210 | $4,101 | $946 | $23.66 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $61,970 | $5,164 | $1,192 | $29.79 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators is $43,370, which is 15% lower. Among the 24 occupations of the field Protective Service, it ranks number 19 by median pay. With 9,520 jobs, it makes up about 0.6 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators pay by state
The highest median pay was in Massachusetts ($61,770), Connecticut ($56,300) and Oregon ($50,120). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($22,950), South Dakota ($33,820) and Louisiana ($33,910). The most jobs were in Oklahoma (1,310), California (990) and Nevada (820). The occupation is most concentrated in Oklahoma, where its share of all jobs is 12.5 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 80 | $61,770 | $59,730 | $29.70 |
| Connecticut | 180 | $56,300 | $57,830 | $27.07 |
| Oregon | 70 | $50,120 | $53,110 | $24.10 |
| Arizona | 380 | $50,010 | $53,160 | $24.05 |
| New York | 170 | $49,110 | $52,740 | $23.61 |
| New Jersey | 270 | $48,620 | $48,970 | $23.37 |
| Maryland | 120 | $47,950 | $48,890 | $23.05 |
| Indiana | 380 | $46,910 | $64,620 | $22.55 |
| North Dakota | 120 | $46,740 | $49,780 | $22.47 |
| Michigan | 330 | $46,620 | $49,490 | $22.41 |
| Nevada | 820 | $46,570 | $48,560 | $22.39 |
| Ohio | 190 | $45,880 | $53,060 | $22.06 |
| Washington | 470 | $45,740 | $49,400 | $21.99 |
| California | 990 | $44,740 | $46,820 | $21.51 |
| Colorado | 100 | $44,340 | $42,680 | $21.32 |
| Minnesota | 210 | $44,080 | $43,570 | $21.19 |
| Illinois | 330 | $42,760 | $43,590 | $20.56 |
| Wisconsin | 260 | $42,150 | $47,060 | $20.26 |
| Virginia | not published | $41,980 | $45,630 | $20.19 |
| Florida | 230 | $39,060 | $43,050 | $18.78 |
| Pennsylvania | 570 | $38,930 | $45,820 | $18.72 |
| Delaware | 50 | $38,910 | $40,060 | $18.71 |
| Missouri | 230 | $38,860 | $39,210 | $18.68 |
| Idaho | 50 | $38,850 | $40,750 | $18.68 |
| Alabama | 70 | $36,970 | $41,010 | $17.78 |
| New Mexico | 110 | $36,930 | $41,240 | $17.75 |
| Kansas | 110 | $36,830 | $40,100 | $17.71 |
| Kentucky | 90 | $36,330 | $36,240 | $17.46 |
| Oklahoma | 1,310 | $36,000 | $37,300 | $17.31 |
| Iowa | 230 | $35,750 | $38,320 | $17.19 |
| Mississippi | 240 | $35,360 | $37,160 | $17.00 |
| West Virginia | 70 | $35,150 | $34,330 | $16.90 |
| Louisiana | 240 | $33,910 | $35,400 | $16.30 |
| South Dakota | 80 | $33,820 | $37,940 | $16.26 |
| Puerto Rico | 250 | $22,950 | $24,620 | $11.03 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Private Detectives and Investigators$51,220 a year
- Parking Enforcement Workers$46,730 a year
- Animal Control Workers$45,660 a year
- Protective Service Workers, All Other$42,540 a year
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers$38,100 a year
- Security Guards$38,020 a year
Common questions
How much do Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators earn in the United States?
The median pay was $43,370 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $32,730 and the highest-paid 10% more than $61,970.
How many people work as Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators?
About 9,520 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.