Security Guards

Law, Public Safety, Corrections and SecurityO*NET 33-9032.00United States

Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $37,998
Projected change: +5.3%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 1.32M jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What security guards do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.
Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.
Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.
Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.
Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, or machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering.
Escort or drive motor vehicle to transport individuals to specified locations or to provide personal protection.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $29,984
25th percentile: $35,074
50th percentile: $37,998
75th percentile: $46,389
90th percentile: $59,546

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $37,998 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+5.3%average or slower

20251,318,994 jobs

2035 projected1,389,270 jobs

70,276 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 79.3%
Some college: 9.6%
Associate degree: 5.1%
Certificate: 4.2%
Bachelor's degree: 2%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Emergency Response
Access Controls
Law Enforcement
Alarm Devices
Patrolling
De-escalation Techniques
Lifting Ability
Loss Prevention
Good Driving Record
Closed-Circuit Television Systems (CCTV)
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Warehousing
First Aid
Armed Guard
Physical Security
Physical Security Operations
Security Systems
Radio Operations
Commercial Real Estate
Conflict Resolution

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Security Officers40,164 postings
02Security Patrol Officers22,667 postings
03Unarmed Security Officers19,131 postings
04Security Guards14,969 postings
05Armed Security Officers13,649 postings
06Flex Officers8,091 postings
07Security Officers/Patrol Drivers7,999 postings
08Access Control Security Officers6,289 postings
09Unarmed Security Guards5,812 postings
10Security Specialists4,023 postings
11Patrol Security Guards3,577 postings
12Hospital Security Officers2,949 postings
13Security Professionals2,393 postings
14Armed Security Guards2,331 postings
15Retail Security Officers2,215 postings
16Public Safety Officers1,832 postings
17Campus Security Officers1,817 postings
18Warehouse Security Officers1,804 postings
19Facility Security Officers1,754 postings
20Healthcare Security Officers1,579 postings

Top employers

01Allied Universal109,309 postings
02Securitas7,459 postings
03GardaWorld6,561 postings
04Andy Frain Services2,246 postings
05Target1,587 postings
06Sunstates Security1,493 postings
07Weiser Security Services1,331 postings
08Prosegur1,196 postings
09Metro One Loss Prevention Services Group1,148 postings
10St. Moritz Security Services1,074 postings
11Inner Parish Security Corporation1,027 postings
12DSI Security Services814 postings
13Walden Security763 postings
14Inter-Con Security Systems725 postings
15Marksman Security Corporation607 postings
16Per Mar Security Services603 postings
17Loomis571 postings
18PalAmerican Security489 postings
19Tarian439 postings
20Blackstone Consulting421 postings

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