What Does a Parking Enforcement Officer Do?
It takes a thick skin to write tickets for a living. Parking enforcement officers patrol streets, garages and lots for cities, hospitals, airports and colleges, writing citations that keep fire lanes, loading zones and accessible spaces clear for the people who need them.
Also known as: Parking Services Monitor, Lead Parking Enforcement Officer, Senior Parking Services Monitor
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Parking Control Officer, Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO), Parking Enforcement Technician, Parking Enforcer, Parking Officer, Parking Regulation Enforcement Officer, Parking Technician, Ticket Writer.
Parking Enforcement Officer Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a parking enforcement officer include:
- Patrol assigned lots and streets on foot, by bike or in a marked vehicle.
- Scan plates with license plate recognition cameras to confirm permits and paid sessions.
- Issue citations on a handheld device, with photos of the vehicle and signage.
- Order boots or tows for vehicles with repeat unpaid fines, following department rules.
- Keep fire lanes, loading zones and accessible spaces clear during busy periods.
- Report broken meters, faded curb paint and missing signs to maintenance.
- Explain rules and payment options to drivers who approach during a patrol.
- Direct traffic and cone off lots for games, graduations and other large events.
- Note abandoned vehicles and start the notice process for their removal.
- Coach newer officers on routes and ticket writing when working as lead.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a parking enforcement officer, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Handheld ticketing devices and license plate recognition
- Fair, consistent enforcement
- Staying calm when drivers get angry
- A valid driver's license
- Knowledge of local parking codes
- Stamina for walking and standing in all weather
- Accurate notes and photos that hold up on appeal
- Radio etiquette and teamwork with dispatch
Education and Training
Parking attendant and security officer jobs lead naturally into enforcement. Employers want a high school diploma and a clean driving record, and the rest is taught on the job. Interviewers often ask for a real example of a tense exchange that ended well, so have one ready.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $39,870 - $60,490 per year, with a median of $46,730.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Parking Enforcement Workers.
For parking enforcement workers, BLS projects a small decline in employment, about 1 percent from 2025 to 2035. That leaves about 800 openings a year, as workers retire or move on. Cameras and pay-by-phone apps are changing the work, and officers who handle the technology well tend to last longest.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Parking enforcement workers.
Parking Enforcement Officer Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $35,130 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $39,870 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $46,730 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $60,490 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $75,340 |
Highest-Paying States for Parking Enforcement Officers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Washington ($68,120), California ($62,280), Oregon ($59,810), Nevada ($55,040), Utah ($52,670). Pay is lowest in West Virginia ($30,490), Arkansas ($30,100), Mississippi ($27,550).
Median pay in all 41 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,270 |
| Arkansas | $30,100 |
| California | $62,280 |
| Colorado | $47,910 |
| Connecticut | $44,100 |
| Delaware | $40,360 |
| Florida | $46,160 |
| Georgia | $36,100 |
| Hawaii | $40,480 |
| Idaho | $33,930 |
| Illinois | $47,080 |
| Indiana | $39,940 |
| Iowa | $43,370 |
| Kansas | $42,420 |
| Kentucky | $45,790 |
| Maine | $44,040 |
| Maryland | $46,060 |
| Massachusetts | $51,980 |
| Michigan | $37,460 |
| Minnesota | $41,670 |
| Mississippi | $27,550 |
| Missouri | $39,040 |
| Montana | $47,750 |
| Nevada | $55,040 |
| New Hampshire | $51,580 |
| New Jersey | $43,920 |
| New York | $47,590 |
| North Carolina | $42,410 |
| Ohio | $48,510 |
| Oklahoma | $45,200 |
| Oregon | $59,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,770 |
| South Carolina | $43,040 |
| Tennessee | $35,730 |
| Texas | $38,720 |
| Utah | $52,670 |
| Vermont | $47,460 |
| Virginia | $46,840 |
| Washington | $68,120 |
| West Virginia | $30,490 |
| Wisconsin | $49,060 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as parking enforcement workers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 99% work outdoors in all kinds of weather every day
- 91% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 55% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 54% spend more than half the workday sitting
- 43% have a lot of freedom to make decisions
- 41% work in very hot or cold conditions every day
- 38% bend or twist for more than half the day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 91% |
Tools and Software Parking Enforcement Officers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Speaking, Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Reading Comprehension.
Knowledge areas used most: English Language, Public Safety and Security, Law and Government, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Parking Enforcement Officer Job
- Job application letter sample
- How to write the skills section of a resume
- How to describe your work experience
- Job interview tips
- Interview thank-you note
The Job Explorer never charges candidates any money. If someone asks you to pay to apply for a parking enforcement officer job or to get hired, treat it as a warning sign.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 33-3041.00 (Parking Enforcement Workers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.