However, this is not the case as the size and scope of the department of homeland security encompasses more than the guy who screens bags at the airport. To prove it, we have researched 22 homeland security jobs you may not know about and even in departments you may have never heard of.

Higher Education Homeland Security Jobs You May Not Know About

1. Red Team While there is some acknowledgment of what the red team is and what they do, there isn’t a whole lot about them on the official DHS site. Those turning to Wikipedia for answers can find that a red team assesses the security of an organization without them knowing. This team, also paired with net assessments, can conduct independent strikes on the DHS without warning and turn in results and recommendations for improved security.
2. Loaned Executive Are you an executive with a lot of expertise to give? Then check out this little-heard of program within the DHS. It gives top executive-level talent from the private sector an opportunity to share their expertise with Homeland Security to fill special, discrete needs. Their goals are to solve problems, improve process, and realize their mission.
3. Privacy Office This unusual office is the first of its kind to exist at the federal level. They help establish and implement privacy policies for new or proposed programs. They even work as part of the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act to help provide oversight and support.
4. Transformational & Applied Research Directorate Work to detect nuclear threats as part of this homeland security job. They address gaps in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture, as well as coordinate with other research and develop organizations. There are several areas these jobs fall into including exploratory, small business, academic, and near term research.
5. Nuclear Technical Forensics This department exists to enforce the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act signed into law by President Obama in 2010. Nuclear forensics is the thorough collection, analysis, and evaluation of radiological and nuclear material. Their two main goals are to be stewards of the nation’s nuclear forensics and cooperate with other departments assigned with this law. The other is to advance the field of nuclear forensics and the ability to work with materials in a pre-detonation state.
6. Cyber Security If you are really good at preventing hacks and protecting systems from viruses and other attacks, this may be the homeland security job for you. The center at which they work is charged with addressing threats and incidents affecting the nation’s critical information technology and cyber infrastructure. They also consolidate cyber and communications operations with other security agencies.
7. Office of Health Affairs Think only hospitals and doctor’s offices need qualified medical personnel? This branch of the DHS is charged with providing health and medical expertise in support of their work. They often work with FEMA and other departments to provide medical oversight. They can also be first responders to a crisis.
8. Office of Legislative Affairs Love politics but hate the idea of running for office? Then check out this department of homeland security. They serve as primary liaison to members of Congress and their staffs. The staff responds to inquiries from Congress, keeps government informed, and even make direct reports to the White House.
9. Office of Public Affairs If you have a degree in public affairs or public relations, there is a DHS job for you. This office is the primary point of contact for news media, organizations and the general public seeking information. They are also asked to be the liaison to the federal government. Sub offices include a press office, incident and strategic communications, speechwriting, new media, and internal communications.
10. Chief Financial Officer Although there is an individual CFO in the DHS, there is also this office which houses many other jobs. If numbers is your thing, you may be interested in this career. Divisions include budget, program analysis, financial operations, internal control, financial assistance, and others.
11. Office of the General Counsel Lawyers and homeland security combine here. This department comprises all lawyers within the Department of Homeland Security, with over 1,750 dedicated attorneys at headquarters and at operating components. These lawyers provide legal advice, ensure that policies are implemented lawfully, and represent the DHS in venues across the country.
12. Homeland Security Specialist A sort of blanket term, this job can be in several different departments. However, the main duties do involve developing, monitoring, and evaluating different types of programs. Often required to have at least a four year degree, they can also be asked to have experience in law enforcement. They can also go on to work in the private sector protecting data.

Lower Education Homeland Security Jobs You May Not Know About

13. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties It may sound like a branch of the ACLU, but this actually exists within the Department of Homeland Security. They ensure all employees and the public are treated in a fair and lawful manner without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, or other factors. This particular position is an internship for law students.
14. Counternarcotics Enforcement Get the DEA version of the DHS in this job. They stop the entry of illegal drugs into the United States and work to sever the connections between illegal drug trafficking and terrorism. In this article, the director of the department speaks more on what they do.
15. Public Affairs Internship The office of public affairs isn’t all directors, journalists, and media relations specialists. They also take in students and entry level applicants. Applicants must be enrolled in college preferably in political science, government, public affairs, or communications.
16. Office of Policy Fellowship An entry level job, it is designed to develop the next generation of leadership within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Fellows are recruited from the nation’s top graduate programs to put their academic achievements, intellect, and professional experience to use. The program lasts for two years and gives the opportunity to earn a permanent position within the department.
17. Border Patrol Agent You always hear about how border agents are needed, but you may not know that they work with the Department of Homeland Security. One of the main duties of a border patrol agent is line watch, which involves the detection, prevention and apprehension of terrorists, undocumented aliens and smugglers. Agents are required to learn Spanish before going on duty.
18. Product Seller Do you make or manufacture a product that the Department of Homeland Security would be interested in? There’s a job, or more accurately, a program for that. Also known as the Small Business Procurement Assistance section, innovators can sell their items to the DHS. Even those with an idea in the development stage can be worked with.
19. Presidential Management Fellows Program Graduate level students who wish to go into leadership will be interested in this little known homeland security job. Students with a commitment to excellence in management of public policies and programs are sought for this two year commitment. The program spans the entire federal government and is administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
20. Legal Intern Volunteers for both interns and externs (interns who can work from any location) are sought in this program. The law office of the DHS also has two other opportunities for legal students and recent graduates including a summer program and one for civil liberties. There is even an honors program.
21. Acquisition Professional Career Program If still unsure about which department or job to take in homeland security, stop here. The program is especially for recent graduates who show promise. Participants get to choose from six major fields and can be assigned to D.C. to gain experience. The three year program allows those who complete it to be entered into the DHS at the GS 13 level.
22. Student Jobs If you haven’t found what you were looking for in the above, click here. It is the database for all the jobs available in the federal government but just for students. Check within 300 different agencies to find what you are looking for, including the Department of Homeland Security.

If you know which area in the Department of Homeland Security you would like to work for, contact them directly to learn more about their requirements. In addition to student programs that may be available for those interested in a career at the DHS, there are also many scholarships and grants available for those still studying.

Serious

1. Coalition Losses in Iraq: This information graphic illustrates the coalition forces military and police deaths during seven years of the US military presence in Iraq.
2. Crisis in Libya: Patrol Log provides a military information graphic that illustrates why Libya is the third largest North African country in terms of military spending, and where that money goes.
3. CyberThreat_US: This is a series presented by OhMyGov that explores the urgent cybersecurity issues that the US government faces. Between 2006-2009, the increase in reported cybersecurity incidents at civilian agencies increased by 400 percent.
4. Do You Know Who’s Watching You? This graphic provides information about the average Internet user’s lack of privacy. Focuses are on Facebook, Google and on telephone logs collected from the three largest phone companies.
5. Exposing Top Secret America: This graphic, brought to you by Visual Information, shows that “since Sept. 11, 2001, the US government has developed a scary dependency on private contractors hidden from public view.” The graphic pinpoints 1,271 government organizations in 2,163 locations and 1,931 private companies in 6,942 locations.
6. How Do Americans Feel About the Bin Laden Mission? A joint USA Today/Gallup poll asked the American public how they felt about the U.S. mission to kill elusive Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
7. How Much Does Identity Theft Cost? In this infographic, created by Sam Franada of Lines & Moodswings for KGBPeople and based on data from Wikipedia, the I.D. Theft Center and other sources, we learn that 10 percent of Americans have had their identities stolen, and on average, each of those individuals lost around $5,000.
8. Immigration Nation: How many illegal immigrants are in the US, where are they from, and how do they fit into this country’s economy?
9. Immigrants in Jail: More than half of all immigrants imprisoned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration violations have not been convicted of a crime. This graphic shows how many immigrants are imprisoned and where they are held.
10. Life After September 11th: This information is more about commemorating this tragic event than about how life has changed since the death of over 3,000 Americans.
11. North Korea: Craziest country in the world: Yes, this is the correct category for this graphic, which shares information about North Korea’s military, its military spending, education and state of its human rights issue.
12. Organizational Chart of the House Democrats’ Health Plan: If you don’t think we can sabotage ourselves, take a look at this infographic prepared by the Republican Party. This image is stunning from a number of perspectives, and they all have to do with lack of simplicity. While the health plan may seem difficult, there is no need to muddy it up further with several different typefaces, lack of color coding and lack of differentiation between an organizational chart or a flow chart. If the Democrats had done this piece of work, we would have said the same thing.
13. Raytheon — World Leader in Air Traffic Management: This infographic shows how Raytheon commands over 60 percent of the world’s air space and has installed more all solids-state ATM radars than all other manufacturers combined. The map shows Raytheon locations, which are based in more than 50 countries.
14. Secure Communities? This information graphic tackles a controversial federal program that sends booking information from local jails to a joint database shared by the FBI and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE).
15. The Hidden Side of the War On Terror: Originally produced by The Washington Post, this graphic shows the “meteoric growth of the spy industry.” The infographic supports a three-part series where Dana Priest and William M. Arkin argue that, since 9/11, the American government has built a top-secret security and intelligence network so vast and labyrinthine, it’s become impossible to manage, casting doubt on whether it’s actually doing what it’s supposed to do.
16. War Sprawl: A large infographic available to download by .zip file. Learn which private companies are involved in military development and spending, and how much they earn for their contract work. Lockheed Martin is listed at #1, with The Boeing Company in second place and Northrup Grumman Corporation in third.

Silly

1. 2010 Homeland Security Statistics From Airport Screenings: Not the most stunning information graphic around, but this is funny. Compared to zero terrorist plots discovered, airport screenings did reveal over 8,000 enlarged prostates and almost 60,000 breast implants.
2. Department Of Homeland Security Revises Threat Warnings: The traditional terror threat level now ranges from the lowest level of “unsubstantiated” to the highest “hysterical” level, with “exaggerated, fabricated and specious” thrown in for good measure.
3. Graphic Parodies: Safe Now brings strange graphics to light, with satirical interpretations. In one graphic for earthquakes, the interpretation goes: “If your building collapses, climb under your table and practice yoga postures.”
4. TSA Gone Wild: Currently, as a front line in the battle against terrorism escalates, “airport security is now the world’s creepiest voyeur.” This graphic showcases airport issues since 1931, with a jump from 1980′s War on Drugs to 9/11. The TSA has spent roughly $40 billion dollars on security.

With literally thousands of choices available, it can be surprising to see just who and what the DHS and related agencies are looking for. To prove it, we have included the top 20 fascinating homeland security careers listed mostly by current average salary. They range from everything from the subject of films to canine handlers with a serious task to perform.

Top Fascinating Homeland Security Careers With a Degree

These careers require at least a four year degree or beyond.

1. Malware Analyst Everyone hates malware, but if you really do there is a career possibility in homeland security for you. They are tasked with identifying and removing malicious software from vital systems. Applicants are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree but can often be asked for a master’s or higher in computer security or related field. Certification is often required, but Indeed reports the current average salary for a senior malware analyst as $90,000.
 
2. Forensic Document Examiner Take on counterfeiting, forgery, and other related crimes in this career. The FDE often examines handwriting, hand printing, and mechanical impressions to verify a document’s validity or rule it a forgery. The career involves a bachelor’s degree and two years of practical experience. Salary averages at $87,178.
 
3. Intelligence Analyst These security professionals piece together bits of information to form integrated views on issues of national security and public safety. They can often be assigned to particular divisions such as China, weapons of mass destruction, Al Qaeda, etc. While most positions require an undergraduate or graduate level degree, there are some options available for high school graduates. While pay varies in rank and title of job, many intelligence analysts can be paid well into the $80,000 per year range.
 
4. Federal Air Marshal Often the subject of films, federal air marshals are responsible not only for the security of aircraft but for national security as it pertains to all aspects of transportation and the country’s critical infrastructure. In addition to degree requirements, which vary by position, marshals are often required to fly for much of the year and be proficient in firearms. Pay ranges from about $40,000 per year all the way up to $90,000, with $65,000 being the average.
 
5. Deportation Officer We all hear about illegal immigrants being deported, but who actually does the deporting? In this position, officers are required to conduct legal research to support deportation, work with other law enforcement agencies, ensure the removal of aliens, and conduct relevant investigations. A master’s degree or doctorate is required and the salary for this position is about $64,000.
 
6. Postal Inspector This homeland security career is charged with protecting the national mail system. Language skills, postal experience, specialized non-postal skills, and academic achievement all can make candidates stand out in addition to the four year accredited degree they require. If hired as a postal inspector, salary can average at $62,000 per year.
 
7. NCIS Special Agent Although television is likely to contain more fiction than fact, there actually is a Naval Criminal Investigative Service that hires special agents. World travel, law enforcement, and many other challenges are taken on by these agents. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree, a Top Secret Security Clearance, and are not required to enlist in the Navy, although preference is given. This site lists the average salary at $54,000 per year.
 
8. Mission Support Specialist If you prefer more of a desk job in homeland security, click here. The mission support specialist is tasked with applying administrative concepts, developing new work methods, and delivering briefings on the progress of these administrative functions. A bachelor’s degree and one year of specialized experience is required. The salary for this job is about $50,000.
 
9. Acquisition Professional Career Program If you are more of a numbers kind of person, there are options for you within homeland security. These professionals are required to be recent college graduates and can choose to pursue one of six career paths from contract specialists that take in business majors to information technology specialists who work on IT related contacts. The salary starts at $49,209 with promotion potential from $89,033 to $115,742, annually.
 
10. IRS Special Agent Do you hate those who hate paying taxes? There’s a career for that. While most tax evaders can be brought to justice with audits and the like, there are special agents who actually work like police that enforce tax laws. Applicants for a special agent of the IRS must have completed at least a bachelor’s degree and be under the age of 37. According to this site, salary for IRS special agents can range from $26,264 per year to $51,738, which averages at $39,001.

Top Fascinating Homeland Security Careers Without a Degree

Even though a college degree may be preferred, many of these homeland security jobs can be won with a high school diploma or less.

11. Explosives Detection Canine Handler Part of the TSA, this job involves securing many modes of transportation including airports, train stations, etc. In addition to passing the regular background checks a security job involves, such as criminal history and drug testing, applicants must also complete the Basic Aviation Security Inspections Course and Canine Handler Training Course. Previous experience in related areas is preferred, but individuals who do get accepted into this job can expect a salary of $68,129 to $105,658 per year.
 
12. Chemical Security Inspector If you want to combine a love of science with a love of homeland security, check out this job. The blogger at Chemical Facility Security News tells more about the positions, including that they are required to perform certain essential duties in close proximity to large quantities of the most hazardous chemicals and chemical production processes in the world. Educational requirements are not specified, but Indeed has the average salary at $79,000.
 
13. Disaster Assistance Employee Did you see the disaster after Hurricane Katrina and think “I can do better?” Then prove it by taking on this career from FEMA. This employee works on an on-call, intermittent basis for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in times of emergency or disaster. Candidates are required to be able to pick and leave within hours of notice and stay away for 30 days or more. Compensation ranges from $11.29 to $42.03 per hour, which translates into an average of $55,452 per year.
 
14. Transportation Security Officer The main duties of this job include securing travel and protecting people. According to Indeed.com, the average salary for this job is $55,000 per year but differs depending on location of job. They also provide a forum where many go to discuss finding and applying for the job.
 
15. Uniformed Division Officer Work for the Secret Service in this career in protection of the White House, Vice President, and other federal offices. Applicants must have at least a high school diploma, be between ages 21 and 40, and have excellent eye sight. New officers have a starting salary of $52,018, and you can learn more on their official site.
 
16. Border Patrol Agent If you are fluent in Spanish and want a career in homeland security, click here. Border patrol agents prevent terrorists from entering the U.S., detect entry of aliens, and apprehend those in violation of the law. A background check, medical examination, and fitness test are all required. Base salary is $38,619 to $49,029 depending on qualifications.
 
17. FBI Internship You don’t need to have a degree to become an intern at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They have a paid Honors Internship Program as well as a non-paid Volunteer Internship Program, either of which can help you get a homeland security career. You can even use the site to see when the next recruiting event will be.
 
18. Operations Ashore – Prevention This career is part of the Coast Guard and involves operations on land. High school graduates can find several options for them, including a few than can help pay for college. Simply click on the name of the program, or call their hotline.
 
19. TSA Intern Looking for a job with the Transportation Security Administration but still a student? Then check out one of the three internships offered by the TSA. They include a career experience program, temporary employment program, and even volunteer service program, all of which can be an important stepping stone to a homeland security career. The TSA site even offers a way to apply online.
 
20. Student Opportunities Finally, if the above aren’t enough for you, click here. It is the master list of student opportunities available at the Department of Homeland Security. They have options in cyber security, health and science, law enforcement, legal, public affairs, and other majors.