How much does a parking officer make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical parking officer in the United States makes $46,730 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They patrol streets on foot or in a vehicle, checking plates, signs and time limits with a handheld computer and radio. They write warnings or tickets, answer drivers, and report problems or arrange tows.
Did you know? A parking officer may do more than write tickets: O*NET says the job can include helping drivers with flat tires, locked-in keys, or a dead battery.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $35,130 and $75,340How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school or earn a GED (often around age 18), then apply; many cities ask for a driver's license. Hiring may include a test or background check, and new officers learn local rules and ticketing on the job.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, useful skills or certificates, and the kind of employer. Location and jobs with extra duties or responsibility can matter too. Hours count: full-time workers may earn more overall than part-time workers.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($68,120), lowest in Mississippi ($27,550).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,130 | $46,730 | $75,340 | about 9,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $68,120 | about 190 |
| California | $62,280 | about 2,000 |
| Oregon | $59,810 | about 80 |
| Nevada | $55,040 | about 40 |
| Utah | $52,670 | about 70 |
Official definition: Patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3041.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/skills/zone/33-3041.00
- www.governmentjobs.com/careers/columbusoh/jobs/newprint/4322845
- www.rollacity.org/job_detail_T7_R79.php
- www.governmentjobs.com/careers/everettwa/jobs/newprint/3109288
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY