Occupation salary profile

Security Guards

SOC 33-9032 BLS OEWS May 2025

Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment. Excludes “Police Officers” (33-3050) and “Transportation Security Screeners” (33-9093).

National median · BLS
$38,020
▼ -0.91% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$42,470
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
1,283,470
Jobs (BLS)
Highest-paying state (cost-adjusted) Loading…
Most jobs Loading…
Highest-paying metro (cost-adjusted) Loading…

Check your salary

Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.

Pay range for Security Guards

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$30,210
25th$35,210
Median (50th)$38,020
75th$46,200
90th — top pay$58,840

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

Type in either box; the other updates instantly.

Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Security Guards

BLS projects employment of security guards to grow 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 156,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
1,294,300 → 1,305,600
+11,300 jobs
Projected change
+0.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
156,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
0.7% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Security Guards

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Active Listening3.8
  • Monitoring3.4
  • Speaking3.3
  • Coordination3.1
  • Critical Thinking3.1
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.0
  • Reading Comprehension3.0
  • Social Perceptiveness3.0
  • Active Learning2.9
  • Persuasion2.9
Top knowledge areas
  • Public Safety and Security4.7
  • Customer and Personal Service4.5
  • English Language4.3
  • Computers and Electronics4.1
  • Administration and Management4.0
  • Education and Training3.8
  • Telecommunications3.8
  • Administrative3.7
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft WordCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteFaceTimeIBM Lotus 1-2-3McAfeeNortonLifeLock cybersecurity softwareWireshark

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What security guards do

  • 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.
Also called
Safety and Security OfficerSecurity AgentSecurity GuardSecurity OfficerArmed Security OfficerCampus Security Officer (CSO)Custom Protection Officer (CPO)Customer Service Security OfficerHotel Security OfficerLoss Prevention Officer
More job titles for this occupation (69)
Access Control Security OfficerAlarm InvestigatorArmed GuardArmed Security GuardArmored Car DriverArmored Car GuardBag CheckerBaggage InspectorBaggage ScreenerBaggage Security CheckerBank GuardBodyguardBouncerCamp GuardClosed Circuit Screen WatcherCustomer Security ClerkDoor TenderDoorshakerDriver GuardElevated GuardFlex OfficerFloorpersonFloorwalkerGate AttendantGate GuardGate KeeperGate OperatorGate PersonGate TenderGate WatchmanGatemanGovernment GuardHall TenderLoss Prevention Representative (Loss Prevention Rep)Maritime GuardMerchant PatrollerMerchant PolicePackage CheckerPatrol GuardPatrol OfficerPatrol Security GuardPatrolmanPlant GuardPlant Protection GuardPlant Protection OfficerPlant Security GuardPolice GuardPrivate Security GuardPrivate WatchmanProtective OfficerRetail Security OfficerSecurity AssistantSecurity CheckerSecurity InspectorSecurity Patrol OfficerSecurity PoliceSecurity ProfessionalSecurity ScreenerSecurity SpecialistShip KeeperSpecial OfficerSpecial PoliceStation GatemanSurveillance OfficerTruck GuardUnarmed Security GuardUnarmed Security OfficerWatchguardWatchman

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.