Occupation · SOC 33-3041
Parking Enforcement Workers
Patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.
Median wage
$47,150
$35,410–$76,030
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
7,770
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
0 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionCoordinationService Orientation
Knowledge areas
English LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentComputers and ElectronicsEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation software
Representative tasks
Enter and retrieve information pertaining to vehicle registration, identification, and status, using hand-held computers.Patrol an assigned area by vehicle or on foot to ensure public compliance with existing parking ordinance.Write warnings and citations for illegally parked vehicles.Appear in court at hearings regarding contested traffic citations.Maintain assigned equipment and supplies, such as hand-held citation computers, citation books, rain gear, tire-marking chalk, and street cones.Respond to and make radio dispatch calls regarding parking violations and complaints.Maintain close communications with dispatching personnel, using two-way radios or cell phones.Perform simple vehicle maintenance procedures, such as checking oil and gas, and report mechanical problems to supervisors.Observe and report hazardous conditions, such as missing traffic signals or signs, and street markings that need to be repainted.Identify vehicles in violation of parking codes, checking with dispatchers when necessary to confirm identities or to determine whether vehicles need to be booted or towed.Train new or temporary staff.Make arrangements for illegally parked or abandoned vehicles to be towed, and direct tow-truck drivers to the correct vehicles.Investigate and answer complaints regarding contested parking citations, determining their validity and routing them appropriately.Provide information to the public regarding parking regulations and facilities, and the location of streets, buildings and points of interest.Prepare and maintain required records, including logs of parking enforcement activities, and records of contested citations.Perform traffic control duties such as setting up barricades and temporary signs, placing bags on parking meters to limit their use, or directing traffic.Mark tires of parked vehicles with chalk and record time of marking, and return at regular intervals to ensure that parking time limits are not exceeded.Locate lost, stolen, and counterfeit parking permits, and take necessary enforcement action.Collect coins deposited in meters.Wind parking meter clocks.Provide assistance to motorists needing help with problems, such as flat tires, keys locked in cars, or dead batteries.Assign and review the work of subordinates.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Hand-held citation computer — operate under direct supervision to enter and retrieve vehicle registration data during an assigned patrol shift.Assigned patrol area — follow a designated route on foot or by vehicle to identify potential parking violations under supervisor guidance.Parking warnings and citations — complete standard forms for illegally parked vehicles by referencing posted ordinance guidelines.Two-way radio — receive and respond to dispatch calls using basic radio protocol while under close supervisor oversight.Tire-marking chalk and street cones — carry, use, and return assigned equipment following established end-of-shift inventory procedures.Vehicle registration status — look up basic registration and identification information using department-approved database software with trainer assistance.Parking ordinance rules — read and interpret posted regulations to determine whether a vehicle is in violation at a single-block location.Daily supply checklist — verify assigned gear such as rain gear, citation books, and chalk before beginning patrol in compliance with departmental policy.Supervisor radio communications — relay accurate field observations to dispatching personnel using clear, concise language during routine patrol.Basic vehicle fluid levels — check oil and fuel on assigned patrol vehicle and report any irregularities to a supervisor before departing the yard.
developing
Hand-held citation computer — independently enter, retrieve, and cross-reference vehicle registration and violation history data across a multi-block patrol zone.Assigned patrol area — conduct systematic foot and vehicle patrols to monitor public compliance with parking ordinances with minimal supervisory direction.Parking citations and warnings — write accurate, legally sufficient citations for a range of violation types, applying local ordinance codes without reference assistance.Court hearing preparation — organize citation records and personal notes to support testimony at contested traffic citation hearings with routine supervision.Equipment maintenance schedule — inspect and clean hand-held computers, citation equipment, and safety gear on a recurring basis to ensure operational readiness.Dispatch radio calls — manage incoming and outgoing radio communications regarding parking violations and public complaints with appropriate urgency and accuracy.Vehicle registration database — query and interpret license plate, registration, and status records efficiently to resolve ambiguous or partially visible plate information.Complaint resolution — apply social perceptiveness and active listening skills to de-escalate citizen disputes about citations in the field.Time management — prioritize patrol coverage across high-violation zones during peak hours to maximize compliance within a defined shift window.Mechanical problem reporting — perform routine vehicle checks, document observed deficiencies accurately, and submit maintenance requests to supervisors in a timely manner.
proficient
Patrol zone enforcement — autonomously manage a full assigned district across varying weather and traffic conditions, applying sound judgment on borderline parking violations.Complex citation documentation — produce detailed, court-ready citation records for contested or unusual violation scenarios without supervisor review prior to submission.Court appearance and testimony — appear in traffic court, present citation evidence clearly, and respond to cross-examination with composure and factual accuracy.Field database operations — independently troubleshoot hand-held computer errors, restore connectivity, and maintain data integrity during uninterrupted patrol operations.Ordinance interpretation — apply critical thinking to interpret ambiguous or conflicting parking regulations and make consistent, defensible enforcement decisions in the field.Multi-channel communications — coordinate simultaneously with dispatching personnel, supervisors, and other agencies via radio and cell phone during high-volume enforcement periods.Public safety awareness — identify and report hazardous conditions, abandoned vehicles, or suspicious activity observed during patrol to appropriate authorities with accurate detail.Citizen interaction — handle confrontational or distressed citizens with self-control and service orientation, providing clear explanations of citation procedures and appeal rights.Equipment lifecycle tracking — monitor wear and functionality of assigned technology and supplies over time, initiating replacement or repair requests before equipment failure occurs.Inductive pattern recognition — identify recurring violation hotspots and time-of-day trends across the patrol area to inform proactive enforcement positioning.
advanced
Enforcement policy development — lead the review and update of parking ordinance enforcement procedures, translating regulatory changes into clear operational protocols for the entire unit.Staff training program — design and deliver structured on-the-job training for new parking enforcement workers, covering citation procedures, equipment use, and public interaction standards.Performance standards — establish measurable citation accuracy, response time, and equipment maintenance benchmarks, and evaluate officer adherence across the full departmental workforce.Court liaison coordination — serve as the departmental point of contact for legal staff and court administrators, ensuring citation documentation meets evidentiary standards across all officers.Technology implementation — lead the rollout and adoption of new hand-held citation computer systems or database software, providing guidance and troubleshooting support to all staff.Dispatch operations oversight — develop communication protocols between enforcement officers and dispatching personnel, improving response accuracy and radio discipline unit-wide.Community relations strategy — represent the parking enforcement division at public forums and municipal meetings, articulating enforcement priorities and addressing community concerns at scale.Inter-agency coordination — collaborate with police, transportation, and municipal departments to align parking enforcement activities with broader public safety and urban mobility goals.Data-driven resource allocation — analyze enforcement data across zones and shifts to direct patrol resources toward high-impact locations, reducing violations at the organizational level.Risk and integrity oversight — establish accountability frameworks to ensure officer adherence to legal, ethical, and departmental standards, including reviewing contested citation patterns for systemic issues.
Also known as
40 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Traffic Control OfficerParking SupervisorParking Services OfficerSpecial Reconnaissance Craftsman (Air Force 1Z471)Parking Regulation Enforcement OfficerEnforcement Safety OfficerParking TechnicianParking Meter AttendantSpecial Reconnaissance Helper (Air Force 1Z411)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Craftsman (Air Force 1Z371)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Apprentice (Air Force 1Z331)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Journeyman (Air Force 1Z351)Ticket WriterEnforcement OfficerCivilian Pay Technician (Civilian Pay Tech)Ramp Service EmployeeTactical Air Control Party (TACP) Superintendent (Air Force 1Z391)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Helper (Air Force 1Z311)Special Reconnaissance Apprentice (Air Force 1Z431)Military Police (Army 31B)Meter MaidSpecial Reconnaissance Superintendent (Air Force 1Z491)Security Forces (Air Force 3P0X1)Parking Enforcement OfficerParking Enforcement SpecialistParking ManagerTraffic Control AttendantParking Lot AttendantInvestigator (Coast Guard IV)Parking OfficerParking Enforcement Officer (PEO)Security Patrol OfficerParking Enforcement TechnicianTactical Air Control Party (TACP) (Air Force 1Z3X1)Special Reconnaissance (Air Force 1Z4X1)PatrollerParking Control OfficerTraffic Management and Collision Investigator (Marine Corps 5813)Parking EnforcerSpecial Reconnaissance Journeyman (Air Force 1Z451)