Parking Enforcement Workers
Also called: Parking Control Officer, Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO), Parking Enforcer, Ticket WriterPatrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 11 of its 19 rated tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 1.1% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.1% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 4.3 hires for every 10 job openings in government, which employs about 88% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.4.3 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,270 | $36,730 to $44,130 | 40 |
| Arkansas | $30,100 | $30,100 to $33,910 | 50 |
| California | $62,280 | $46,680 to $77,350 | 1,710 |
| Colorado | $47,910 | $46,130 to $57,660 | 100 |
| Connecticut | $44,100 | $41,780 to $63,000 | 70 |
| Delaware | $40,360 | $37,540 to $46,070 | 70 |
| Florida | $46,160 | $39,240 to $47,330 | 710 |
| Georgia | $36,100 | $34,070 to $37,800 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $40,480 | $40,280 to $45,200 | 30 |
| Idaho | $33,930 | $33,920 to $37,940 | 60 |
| Illinois | $47,080 | $37,700 to $64,240 | not published |
| Indiana | $39,940 | $34,170 to $44,460 | 100 |
| Iowa | $43,370 | $38,830 to $51,790 | 50 |
| Kansas | $42,420 | $37,780 to $47,200 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $45,790 | $32,520 to $46,830 | 30 |
| Maine | $44,040 | $44,040 to $49,960 | 30 |
| Maryland | $46,060 | $38,680 to $59,340 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $51,980 | $46,320 to $59,810 | 300 |
| Michigan | $37,460 | $33,060 to $45,250 | 180 |
| Minnesota | $41,670 | $38,790 to $52,580 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $27,550 | $26,470 to $38,820 | 40 |
| Missouri | $39,040 | $39,040 to $41,290 | 70 |
| Montana | $47,750 | $41,770 to $53,130 | 40 |
| Nevada | $55,040 | $52,880 to $66,710 | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $51,580 | $42,960 to $54,710 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $43,920 | $39,300 to $46,140 | 470 |
| New York | $47,590 | $39,880 to $58,950 | 730 |
| North Carolina | $42,410 | $39,260 to $44,630 | 80 |
| Ohio | $48,510 | $40,510 to $58,270 | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $45,200 | $35,180 to $49,050 | 60 |
| Oregon | $59,810 | $50,620 to $76,750 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,770 | $40,370 to $46,730 | 660 |
| South Carolina | $43,040 | $38,320 to $46,550 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $35,730 | $35,730 to $39,740 | 40 |
| Texas | $38,720 | $35,330 to $43,740 | 270 |
| Utah | $52,670 | $38,650 to $57,260 | 70 |
| Vermont | $47,460 | $41,080 to $55,910 | 30 |
| Virginia | $46,840 | $39,480 to $58,380 | 130 |
| Washington | $68,120 | $61,140 to $76,870 | 190 |
| West Virginia | $30,490 | $27,240 to $36,030 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $49,060 | $49,060 to $55,330 | 150 |
Nationally: $46,730. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 11 of its 19 rated tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI alone | Maintain close communications with dispatching personnel, using two-way radios or cell phones. | Not published |
| Not much | Write warnings and citations for illegally parked vehicles. | Not published |
| AI + software | Patrol an assigned area by vehicle or on foot to ensure public compliance with existing parking ordinance. | Not published |
| Not much | Maintain assigned equipment and supplies, such as hand-held citation computers, citation books, rain gear, tire-marking chalk, and street cones. | Not published |
| AI + software | Enter and retrieve information pertaining to vehicle registration, identification, and status, using hand-held computers. | Not published |
| AI + software | 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. | Not published |
See all 20 tasks
| AI + software | Observe and report hazardous conditions, such as missing traffic signals or signs, and street markings that need to be repainted. | Not published |
| AI alone | Respond to and make radio dispatch calls regarding parking violations and complaints. | Not published |
| AI + software | Provide information to the public regarding parking regulations and facilities, and the location of streets, buildings and points of interest. | Not published |
| AI + software | Make arrangements for illegally parked or abandoned vehicles to be towed, and direct tow-truck drivers to the correct vehicles. | Not published |
| Not much | Appear in court at hearings regarding contested traffic citations. | Not published |
| AI + software | Perform simple vehicle maintenance procedures, such as checking oil and gas, and report mechanical problems to supervisors. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare and maintain required records, including logs of parking enforcement activities, and records of contested citations. | Not published |
| AI + software | 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. | Not published |
| Not rated | Perform traffic control duties such as setting up barricades and temporary signs, placing bags on parking meters to limit their use, or directing traffic or pedestrians. | Not published |
| Not much | Train new or temporary staff. | Not published |
| Not much | Investigate and answer complaints regarding contested parking citations, determining their validity and routing them appropriately. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide assistance to motorists needing help with problems, such as flat tires, keys locked in cars, or dead batteries. | Not published |
| Not much | Locate lost, stolen, and counterfeit parking permits, and take necessary enforcement action. | Not published |
| Not much | Assign and review the work of subordinates. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 20 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 20 tasks fall under 18 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #1 Gather information from physical or electronic sources
- #3 Respond to customer problems or inquiries
- #12 Explain regulations, policies, or procedures
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notify others of emergencies or problems | |||
| Monitor safety or security of work areas, facilities, or properties | |||
| Maintain safety or security | |||
| Gather information from physical or electronic sources | |||
| Respond to customer problems or inquiries | |||
| Explain regulations, policies, or procedures | |||
| Provide general assistance to others, such as customers, patrons, or motorists | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities |
Show all 18 activities
| Issue documentation | |||
| Investigate incidents or accidents | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Monitor environmental conditions | |||
| Evaluate personnel capabilities or performance | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products | |||
| Present information in legal proceedings | |||
| Direct vehicle traffic |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for parking enforcement workers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 3,082 moves out
- 1 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 12%
- 2 Security Guards Moderate +0.9% 11%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
- 4 Teacher Assistants (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 5 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 3,131 moves in
- 1 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 11%
- 2 Security Guards Moderate +0.9% 11%
- 3 Teacher Assistants (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 10%
- 4 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 6%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 2% less than high school
- 20% high school
- 26% some college
- 13% associate's
- 28% bachelor's
- 9% master's
- 2% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 169 people surveyed.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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