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JUNE 2025
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Col. Paul Cook (Ret.) District 1
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Jesse Armendarez District 2
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Dawn Rowe
Chairman
District 3
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Curt Hagman
District 4
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Joe Baca Jr.
Vice Chair
District 5
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Luther Snoke – Chief Executive Officer, San Bernardino County
Bradley Gates – Director, Workforce Development Department
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The legal profession offers strong demand, impressive pay in the Inland Empire
From courtrooms to classrooms and patrol beats to protective services, careers in law are not only essential to community safety and justice, they also offer some of the most stable and well-paying job opportunities in San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire.
According to the California Employment Development Department, the region is expected to see continued growth in a range of law-related professions through 2032. Leading the way are Paralegals and Legal Assistants, projected to grow by 20%, followed closely by Lawyers (17%) and Other Protective Service Workers (17%).
These roles come with serious earning potential. Median annual salaries range from $61,684 for Paralegals to $230,890 for Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, a figure that actually tops the median salary for Lawyers ($153,429). Other standout roles include First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives ($164,681), Court Reporters ($134,967), and Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers ($109,832).
While many of these positions require a degree or certification, they span a variety of education levels, from associate degrees and professional training to advanced degrees in law and education. What they have in common is a deep impact on the region’s safety, legal integrity and civic structure.
The demand is especially significant for front-line and support roles. Protective Service Workers alone account for nearly 50,000 projected jobs, a strong indicator of the region’s growing need for public safety, emergency response and community protection services.
The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) supports career seekers in this vital sector through training programs, job matching and resources to build long-term career success. For more information about WDB’s programs and services, visit our website.
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Demand for Law Professionals, Inland Empire
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Projected Employment 2032
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Percentage Increase 2022-2032
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Median Annual Salary
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Lawyers
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3,870
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17%
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$153,429
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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
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2,180
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20%
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$61,684
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Court Reporters
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280
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No change
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$134,967
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Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers
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140
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8%
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$230,890
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First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
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660
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No change
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$164,681
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Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
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6,120
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1%
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$109,832
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Other Protective Service Workers
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32,940
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17%
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Unavailable
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SOURCE: California Employment Development Department, 2022-2032 Occupational Employment Projections
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 Benjamin Mena (above) credits WDB with providing him the stability and consistency he had been looking for.
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Here’s how WDB put him in the driver’s seat to change his career and his life
Benjamin Mena of San Bernardino was tired of the ups and downs of seasonal construction work. He needed something more stable, for himself and his family.
That opportunity came through the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-funded “Prison to Employment” initiative.
“I can’t give Larry Aragon [Workforce Development Specialist] enough credit,” Benjamin said. “He encouraged me and kept me focused when things got tough.”
Benjamin enrolled in a full-time trucking course but struggled at first to pass his driving test. With Larry and the Workforce Development team cheering him on, he stuck with it and eventually earned his Commercial Driver’s License.
Today, Benjamin is working full-time for Elite Pallets Solutions. He finally has the stability and consistency he had been looking for.
“This didn’t just change my career, it changed my life,” he said.
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The unemployment rate in San Bernardino County edged lower in April, led by increases in healthcare and the government sector. Total employment in the county remains within striking distance of 1 million jobs. Across the Inland Empire, healthcare has added 2,400 jobs during the past 12 months, with leisure and hospitality close behind (up 2,200 jobs).
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April 2024
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February 2025
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March 2025
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April 2025
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San Bernardino County Unemployment Rate
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4.9%
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5.2%
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5.1%
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5.0%
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California Unemployment Rate*
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5.4%
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5.5%
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5.5%
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5.0%
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United States Unemployment Rate*
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4.8%
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4.4%
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4.5%
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3.9%
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People Employed in San Bernardino County
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973,700
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985,500
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994,200
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989,400
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San Bernardino County Labor Force
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1,019,700
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1,038,200
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1,046,200
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1,039,400
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* Rates unadjusted
SOURCE: California Employment Development Department
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See how our Business Services team can support your company’s growth
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By William Sterling
WDB Chair
As we continue to grow a stronger and more resilient economy in San Bernardino County, the role of our Business Services team has never been more critical.
Over the past year, this dedicated team has been instrumental in supporting local businesses through challenging transitions, helping employers retain talent, avoid closures and train their workforce for long-term success. In fact, our Business Consulting Services directly contributed to saving 327 jobs across the county. Through 43 Rapid Response Orientations, nearly 2,800 workers impacted by furloughs, layoffs or business closures were connected with resources to help them navigate what’s next. And through 124 On-The-Job Training contracts, we’ve helped companies bring on new employees while offsetting training costs, at no cost to the employer.
These results speak not only to the strength of our programs but also to our commitment to partnership. When local businesses thrive, our communities thrive. That’s the mission of the Workforce Development Board, and it’s one we are proud to carry forward every day.
If you’re a business owner or employer in San Bernardino County, I encourage you to reach out and see how our team can support your growth.
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Discovering the bigger, regional impact that public service can have
By Michael Burrows
Chief Executive Officer, San Bernardino International Airport
My first job was at 601 North E Street, otherwise known as the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ Roy C. Hill Education Center. The Regional Occupational Program (ROP) administrative offices were the best place for me, as a 16-year-old high school kid, to not just love my first real job but be surrounded by the talented professionals who truly live and breathe workforce development.
Among other things, as a data entry clerk on a 10-key external keypad, I manually logged in attendance for every ROP class across the County of San Bernardino. I gained appreciation for the work being done at the ROP level and how many people were benefiting from it. (It's also why I predominately type with three to four fingers to this day.) At the time, I knew the importance of education, but it was amazing to see how ROP could do so much across the largest county in the contiguous United States and across such diverse needs, skills, trades and disciplines.
This experience also helped to show me that there are clear conduits to spark the next business or employment opportunity, with meaningful and lasting outcomes for the entire region. In many ways, I think I’m still working my first job.
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Stat of the Month
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 Several hundred job seekers attended the annual Career & Expungement Fair held May 28 at the historic Terminal 1 at Ontario International Airport, sponsored by the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board and the San Bernardino County Public Defender’s Office.
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The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board hosts hiring events at the County’s America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) and other venues throughout the year. Coming up:
Thursday, July 17: Career Fair, West Valley AJCC, 9650 9th Street, Suite A, Rancho Cucamonga. 9 a.m.-Noon.
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Coming Up
WDB hosts free virtual seminars throughout the week to help job seekers on topics such as interviewing skills, resume building and navigating the employment resources that are available. If you know of anyone who could use this valuable assistance, a calendar of upcoming sessions is available online.
In the meantime, here are some upcoming events and release dates:
Friday, June 20: California Employment Development Department releases its May jobs report.
Thursday, July 3: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its June jobs report.
Wednesday, July 9: WDB Committee Meetings, 290 North D Street, San Bernardino. 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
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 On any given day, San Bernardino County’s three America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) have access to 100 or more job seekers ready and able to fill your positions. To find that perfect employee for your business, please contact your local AJCC:
East Valley: 500 Inland Center Drive, Space 508, San Bernardino (909) 382-0440
West Valley: 9650 9th St., Suite A, Rancho Cucamonga (909) 941-6500
High Desert: 17310 Bear Valley Road, Suite 109, Victorville (760) 552-6550
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Stay up to date
Catch up on past editions of Workforce Update, WDB’s monthly e-newsletter and labor market intelligence report.
If you know others who would like to receive this timely and important information, please invite them to join our mailing list at info.workforce@wdd.sbcounty.gov.
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- WIOA Title I-financially assisted programs or activities are an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For federal funding disclosure information, visit: workforce.sbcounty.gov/about/ffd/
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