How much are you worth in the private sector?

[Question]

I don't mean this to be a personal question per se, and maybe only former LEOs like TXInvestigator may be able to answer this, but ...

How much do you believe your salary will increase or how much has it increased after you will leave the police force or since you have left the police force?

[corporal716]

For me my hourly wage went down, because I went and got another county job in an LE support roll. But with my retirement and new job, I take home a few hundred more a month and don't have to pay medical insurance.

This job will allow me to retire again one day and be comfortable in my older years.

[mcsap]

When I can retire in 6 years at age 50, my pension will be approx 38K for the rest of my life ( not including COLA) , plus whatever I can earn in the private sector.

[txinvestigator1]

That is a tough question to answer. There are many factors to consider. Officers who received specialized training such as SWAT, Traffic Accident Investigation, Crimes Against Persons, etc, and who can convert that training to useful careers on the non-LEO world can do quite well.

OTOH, I see a lot of former cops coming in and working security jobs that do not pay near as well as the LE jobs did.

I know a 22 year Secret Service agent who is a VP at a nationwide security company, and I am certain he is dragging in 6 figures. I know a former cop, SWAT team leader who is in Afghanastan pulling in $20k per month. He is done in December, and already has a 6 figure deal with the state department to travel the US training people for overseas gigs.

I know a former DPS trooper making nearly 6 figures running his own traffic accident investigation business and testifying as an expert witness in fatalities and lawsuits.

I know 2 former FBI agents running a successful business in White Collar Crime investigations. The list goes on and on.

[Group9]

It depends. RIght now there are a lot of jobs, especially foreign with companies like Dyncorp and Blackwater, where a retired LEO with good credentials and in good physical shape can probably double or even triple his law enforcement pay.

[JD45]

It depends. RIght now there are a lot of jobs, especially foreign with companies like Dyncorp and Blackwater, where a retired LEO with good credentials and in good physical shape can probably double or even triple his law enforcement pay.

Just out of curiosity, I've never heard of either of those? I assume they're some type of security companies?

[dwf]

How much you are worth to the private sector will depend on many things. Location, level of education, practical experience, prior experience, but likely as much if not more, on your own ideas of what you want to do (assuming a level of realism). I have a very clear idea of what I will be doing when I hang up my badge and gun and have already spoken with prospective employers regarding it. What is driving me though is not the money, but the job itself and because of it, I am finding ways to sell and utilize my experience(s) that may not be readily apparent. I will be earning roughly 3-4 times what I am now.

[scott715us]

Just out of curiosity, I've never heard of either of those? I assume they're some type of security companies?

They are contracted companies looking for those with LE or FF experience to help in other countries. Usually the pay starts in the $90s and is tax exempt. Great pay, but there can be substantial danger depending on where you are located.

[retdetsgt]

I could have made more money in sales, what I was doing before, but I hated every minute of it. And now I retired and making over $50K sitting around posting dumbass things on boards like this.... If I'd stayed in sales, I'd still be working. Money is important, but I made enough as a cop to live okay and put a couple of kids through school.

[Group9]

Just out of curiosity, I've never heard of either of those? I assume they're some type of security companies?

Yeah. They also provide police training. Last I heard, Blackwater was paying $12,000 per month for Bosnia and as much as double that for Iraq (depending on assignment and qualifications). It is can be very high-risk. Dyncorp, and a few others in the same line of work, are similiar in pay.

[retdetsgt]

A good friend of mine quit Dyncorp in Iraq and came home early. He told me there was way too much corruption by the managers of Dyncorp than he could handle. They were selling guns and other equipment to the black market. From what I've read, Blackwater doesn't have a stellar reputation with the military over there either.

[Babysmamadrama]

Group9 , weren't the four guys that got killed and hung on the bridge in Iraq working for Blackwater? I seem to remember that name.

[Group9]

Group9 , weren't the four guys that got killed and hung on the bridge in Iraq working for Blackwater? I seem to remember that name.

Yeah, risk is high, no doubt about it. That's why the pay is so good. It's the same for our overseas positions. The money seems unbelievable until you remember that we have lost as many as five agents at one time on overseas assignments.

Most of the guys I know who have done it or are doing it are satisfied. But, the way things are done in third world countries may be a little disconcerting at times. If it was a perfect job, it wouldn't have to pay so much.

[txinvestigator1]

Yeah, 4 Blackwater guys were killed. Blaclwater has a good rep, as does Steele and Triple Canopy. I would not go woth Dyna Corp.