Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Career, Salary and Skills
Retail Loss Prevention Specialists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $42,540 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 81,500. Wage data is published for 232 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
33-9099.02
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$42,540
Hourly median
$20.45
Employment
81,500
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Speaking | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Monitoring | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Active Listening | 3.50 | 3.25 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Active Learning | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Writing | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- Implement or monitor processes to reduce property or financial losses.
- Identify and report merchandise or stock shortages.
- Maintain documentation or reports on security-related incidents or investigations.
- Apprehend shoplifters in accordance with guidelines.
- Verify proper functioning of physical security systems, such as closed-circuit televisions, alarms, sensor tag systems, or locks.
- Identify and report safety concerns to maintain a safe shopping and working environment.
- Conduct store audits to identify problem areas or procedural deficiencies.
- Investigate known or suspected internal theft, external theft, or vendor fraud.
Technology
- Aspect Loss Prevention Aspect EliteLP
- Case management system software
- Database software
- Enterprise application integration EAI software
- Epicor Loss Prevention
- McAfee
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
Retail Loss Prevention Specialists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in CAMedian $39,330 · Employment 26,360
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $37,290 · Employment 9,160
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in PAMedian $34,320 · Employment 5,720
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in COMedian $44,340 · Employment 4,640
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in WAMedian $42,170 · Employment 4,530
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in TXMedian $33,500 · Employment 4,360
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in VAMedian $35,230 · Employment 4,000
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in New York, NYMedian $57,920 · Employment 3,880
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in NJMedian $54,950 · Employment 3,520
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $44,490 · Employment 2,820
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in FLMedian $44,310 · Employment 2,790
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Salary in Philadelphia, PAMedian $35,060 · Employment 2,760
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.