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Private Security Services
Allied Universal, Securitas, GardaWorld
Security Guards
Security guards spend most of their time watching entrances, patrolling property, and responding quickly when alarms, suspicious behavior, or emergencies show up. The work is defined by a constant tradeoff: long stretches of routine monitoring can turn into moments of conflict, medical help, or police coordination without much warning. Pay is usually modest, but the job is open to people with limited formal education and can be a fast way into the workforce.
Also known as Security OfficerUnarmed Security OfficerFacility Security OfficerCampus Security OfficerPatrol Security Officer
Median Salary
$38,370
Mean $42,890
U.S. Workforce
~1.2M
161K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+0.4%
1262.1K to 1267.1K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Security Guards sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~1.2M workers, with a median annual pay of $38,370 and roughly 161K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 1262.1 K in 2024 to 1267.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Security Guard Trainee and can progress toward Security Manager. High-value skills usually include CCTV, Access Control & Alarm Monitoring, Two-Way Radios & Dispatch Logs, and Badge Readers, Metal Detectors & Screening Devices, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Monitoring, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Walk through buildings, parking areas, and outdoor grounds to check doors, windows, gates, and other entry points for problems.
- Watch entrances and use cameras, badge checks, or screening equipment to keep out unauthorized people and prohibited items.
- Respond when an alarm sounds, a disturbance starts, or something looks out of place, and decide whether the situation needs backup.
- Call police, fire, or medical responders during emergencies and help direct them to the right location.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Walk through buildings, parking areas, and outdoor grounds to check doors, windows, gates, and other entry points for problems.
02 Watch entrances and use cameras, badge checks, or screening equipment to keep out unauthorized people and prohibited items.
03 Respond when an alarm sounds, a disturbance starts, or something looks out of place, and decide whether the situation needs backup.
04 Call police, fire, or medical responders during emergencies and help direct them to the right location.
05 Stay visible in public areas, calm tense situations, and answer basic questions from visitors, tenants, or employees.
06 Write shift reports that explain damage, theft, suspicious activity, accidents, or other unusual events.
Industries That Hire
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Retail
Walmart, Target, Costco
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Healthcare
Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic
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Education
Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Texas at Austin
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Transportation and Logistics
UPS, FedEx, Amazon Logistics
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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It is one of the easiest protective-service jobs to enter: the typical requirement is just a high school diploma, and 79.26% of workers come in with that level of schooling.
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The labor market is huge, with about 1.24 million workers and roughly 161,000 annual openings, so there are many chances to get hired.
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You can work in very different settings, from hospitals and campuses to warehouses, malls, and office buildings.
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The job gives you clear responsibilities, which can be a plus if you like knowing exactly what you are supposed to watch for and report.
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Short-term on-the-job training means you can start working quickly instead of spending years in school.
Challenges
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Pay is fairly modest for the amount of responsibility involved: the median annual wage is $38,370, and the mean is only $42,890.
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Growth is almost flat, with projected employment rising just 0.4% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is not adding many new jobs.
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This is a tough role to move up from because the barrier to entry is low and most jobs do not require experience, which keeps the career ceiling limited unless you move into supervision or another field.
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Security technology can replace some routine work, such as watching cameras, checking badges, and monitoring alarms, which puts pressure on demand for the simplest guard posts.
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The work can turn stressful or unsafe without warning, since alarms, trespassers, medical emergencies, and confrontations can happen on the same shift.
Career Progression
Security Guard Trainee
0-1 years
$28K-$34K
Learns post orders, patrol routes, reporting rules, and how to handle routine contact with the public.
Security Guard
1-3 years
$35K-$46K
Works a regular post, watches for threats, responds to alarms, and writes incident reports with limited supervision.
Lead Security Guard THIS ROLE
3-6 years
$46K-$58K
Trains newer guards, handles more complex incidents, and coordinates coverage across multiple entry points or shifts.
Security Supervisor
6-10 years
$58K-$72K
Manages schedules, reviews reports, checks performance, and works with clients or site managers on safety issues.
Security Manager
10+ years
$72K-$95K
Oversees security operations, policies, vendors, and staffing across one site or several locations.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 79.26% of workers in this role.
Some college courses
A smaller but real pathway, reported by 9.56% of workers, especially for people building toward supervision or law enforcement.
Associate degree
Another alternative route, held by 5.06% of workers, often in criminal justice or a related field.
Security guard license or short certification
Not shown in the education distribution, but many employers require a state guard license or brief security training before you start working.
Key Skills
Technical
CCTV, Access Control & Alarm Monitoring 76%
Two-Way Radios & Dispatch Logs 72%
Badge Readers, Metal Detectors & Screening Devices 69%
Incident Reporting Software & Shift Logs 66%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningMonitoringSpeakingCoordinationCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision Making Job Outlook and Trends
+0.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
161K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 1262.1K to 1267.1 K over the next decade, representing 0.4% growth. Around 161 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.