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Security Guard

O*NET-SOC: 33-9032.00

Social Services

Guards, patrols, and monitors premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules, maintaining order and enforcing regulations for the security of personnel, property, and visitors.

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$38K

Median Salary

+6%

Growing

High School Diploma

Min. Education

Moderate Balance

Work-Life Balance

About This Role

Security guards protect people, property, and information by maintaining a visible presence at buildings and facilities, monitoring for unauthorized access, and responding to incidents. They work in a wide range of settings including office buildings, hospitals, retail stores, warehouses, and event venues. Their daily routine combines scheduled patrols, where they walk through hallways and around the perimeter looking for anything out of the ordinary, with stationary tasks like watching surveillance camera feeds and checking identification at entry points.

A Day in the Life

6:00 AM

Shift start and briefing

Arrive at the facility and receive a handover briefing from the outgoing shift, reviewing incident logs and any active concerns.

6:30 AM

Check access points

Walk the building to verify that all entry doors, gates, and windows are secure and that cameras and alarms are working.

8:00 AM

Visitor screening

Check identification and credentials for employees and visitors entering the building, operating screening equipment as needed.

10:00 AM

Perimeter patrol

Walk or drive around the property to look for anything unusual, such as forced entry, fire hazards, or unauthorized vehicles.

12:00 PM

Lunch break

Take a short break while remaining reachable by radio in case of an incident.

1:00 PM

Monitor surveillance feeds

Watch camera feeds from the control room, investigating in person if anything looks out of place.

3:00 PM

Write incident reports

Document the day's activities, note any irregularities or rule violations, and file reports for management.

5:30 PM

Shift handover

Brief the incoming guard on any ongoing issues, equipment status, and events from the shift.

Tools & Technologies

- Office Suites
- Microsoft Office
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite

- Spreadsheets

- Microsoft Excel
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3

- Email

- Microsoft Outlook

- Document Management

- Microsoft SharePoint

- Word Processing

- Microsoft Word

- Security & Antivirus

- McAfee
- NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software

Salary Details

Salary Distribution

Salary distribution for Security Guard: 10th percentile $30K, 25th $35K, median $38K, 75th $47K, 90th $60K Median $30K $35K $38K $47K $60K

Most professionals earn between $35K and $47K

Security Guard salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $30K 25th $35K 50th (Median) $38K 75th $47K 90th $60K

Salary by State

Security Guard salary by state map

Security Guard salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range District of Columbia $63K $37K - $79K Alaska $49K $35K - $81K Washington $48K $38K - $73K Colorado $46K $34K - $59K Minnesota $46K $35K - $71K Massachusetts $45K $36K - $57K New Hampshire $45K $35K - $63K California $44K $36K - $59K Oregon $44K $36K - $61K Virginia $43K $31K - $73K Vermont $43K $35K - $52K New York $43K $36K - $60K Utah $42K $33K - $53K Hawaii $42K $30K - $59K Maine $41K $33K - $53K Missouri $41K $31K - $70K Idaho $41K $31K - $79K Connecticut $40K $34K - $55K North Dakota $40K $31K - $54K Wisconsin $39K $31K - $57K Nebraska $39K $34K - $61K Rhode Island $39K $30K - $51K New Jersey $39K $33K - $61K New Mexico $39K $30K - $66K Illinois $39K $36K - $59K Maryland $39K $33K - $62K Arizona $39K $32K - $50K Nevada $38K $29K - $49K Montana $38K $29K - $48K Michigan $38K $28K - $55K Delaware $38K $35K - $78K Pennsylvania $38K $30K - $52K Indiana $38K $30K - $64K Iowa $37K $31K - $50K West Virginia $37K $23K - $59K Arkansas $37K $28K - $49K South Dakota $37K $30K - $50K Oklahoma $37K $26K - $59K Wyoming $36K $28K - $49K Ohio $36K $29K - $62K Florida $36K $30K - $48K Kansas $36K $30K - $58K Tennessee $36K $29K - $60K North Carolina $36K $29K - $58K Georgia $36K $26K - $59K Kentucky $36K $29K - $49K South Carolina $35K $26K - $47K Texas $33K $25K - $49K Louisiana $32K $22K - $49K Alabama $31K $23K - $46K Mississippi $30K $22K - $46K

Security Guard salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range District of Columbia $63K $37K - $79K Alaska $49K $35K - $81K Washington $48K $38K - $73K Colorado $46K $34K - $59K Minnesota $46K $35K - $71K Massachusetts $45K $36K - $57K New Hampshire $45K $35K - $63K California $44K $36K - $59K Oregon $44K $36K - $61K Virginia $43K $31K - $73K Vermont $43K $35K - $52K New York $43K $36K - $60K Utah $42K $33K - $53K Hawaii $42K $30K - $59K Maine $41K $33K - $53K Missouri $41K $31K - $70K Idaho $41K $31K - $79K Connecticut $40K $34K - $55K North Dakota $40K $31K - $54K Wisconsin $39K $31K - $57K Nebraska $39K $34K - $61K Rhode Island $39K $30K - $51K New Jersey $39K $33K - $61K New Mexico $39K $30K - $66K Illinois $39K $36K - $59K Maryland $39K $33K - $62K Arizona $39K $32K - $50K Nevada $38K $29K - $49K Montana $38K $29K - $48K Michigan $38K $28K - $55K Delaware $38K $35K - $78K Pennsylvania $38K $30K - $52K Indiana $38K $30K - $64K Iowa $37K $31K - $50K West Virginia $37K $23K - $59K Arkansas $37K $28K - $49K South Dakota $37K $30K - $50K Oklahoma $37K $26K - $59K Wyoming $36K $28K - $49K Ohio $36K $29K - $62K Florida $36K $30K - $48K Kansas $36K $30K - $58K Tennessee $36K $29K - $60K North Carolina $36K $29K - $58K Georgia $36K $26K - $59K Kentucky $36K $29K - $49K South Carolina $35K $26K - $47K Texas $33K $25K - $49K Louisiana $32K $22K - $49K Alabama $31K $23K - $46K Mississippi $30K $22K - $46K

Lower ($30K-$46K)Middle (~$46K)Higher ($46K-$63K)

Highest Paying States

- 1.District of Columbia$63K
- 2.Alaska$49K
- 3.Washington$48K
- 4.Colorado$46K
- 5.Minnesota$46K

Lowest Paying States

- 1.Mississippi$30K
- 2.Alabama$31K
- 3.Louisiana$32K
- 4.Texas$33K
- 5.South Carolina$35K

Certifications, Training & Memberships

Essential

Security Guard License (SGL)

State Licensing Board

Certification

Basic mandatory credential covering legal powers, ethics, and patrol procedures.

Recommended

Master Security Officer Level 2 (MSO-2)

AlliedBarton Security

Certification

Advanced training in fire safety, loss prevention, patrol techniques, and crime response.

CPR/First Aid/AED

American Red Cross

Certification

Hands-on training for emergency medical response in security incidents.

Helpful

Fire Safety Officer Training

OSHA/State Fire Marshal

Course

Covers fire plans, evacuations, and hazard recognition for government facilities.

Professional Memberships

ASIS International Membership

ASIS International

Membership

Professional network for security professionals offering resources on best practices.

Work Environment

Remote Work On-site Only

Work Setting Mixed indoor / outdoor

Physical Activity Physically active — significant time on your feet





Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction

Schedule Standard work hours

Your Skills & Attributes

Skills & Competencies Matches (43)

- Monitoring

Moderate Match

- Speaking

Moderate Match

- Critical Thinking

Moderate Match

- Coordination

Moderate Match

- Reading Comprehension

Moderate Match

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Security Guard a good career?

Security Guard can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $38K and job outlook is growing (6% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match.

What degree do you need to become a Security Guard?

The typical education requirement for a Security Guard is a High School Diploma. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience.

How long does it take to become a Security Guard?

Becoming a Security Guard typically requires about 4 years of high school education. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements.

What is the work-life balance like for a Security Guard?

The work-life balance for a Security Guard is moderate, with some periods requiring extended hours or flexibility. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location.

What is the job outlook for Security Guard?

The job outlook for Security Guard is growing. Employment is projected to grow by 6% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization.

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