Guide to Security Jobs and Common Security Job Salaries

Working as a security professional is appealing for many reasons. Often, there is the satisfaction that comes with knowing you are providing a service that keeps people and their property safe from harm, but this field can also provide excitement, in addition to the opportunity to travel and meet new and interesting people.

While full-time and part-time security jobs are popular among those with military or law enforcement backgrounds, this job field is open to anyone. The entrance requirements for security jobs vary widely, with some requiring no more than a high school diploma — while others will require licensing, certification, college degrees, or specific background experience. Requirements can vary depending on which state you live in, as well.

In the following guide, we cover different types of security job titles, including associated job duties, qualifications or requirements, and common security job salaries. However, it’s worth noting that the numbers are ballpark figures and can either vary from state to state or within an industry. Whether you live in New York City, San Francisco, or Atlanta, you can find numbers more specific to your area in the United States by doing a personalized search on Joblist.

A security guard or security officer is responsible for guarding property, such as a building or larger complex. Security guards may be armed or unarmed depending on the particular role. Duties often include patrolling the grounds either by foot, vehicle, or both, monitoring security systems, granting or denying entrance, and reacting to any incidents that may arise either on their own or by calling in local law enforcement or emergency personnel.

Basic unarmed security officer positions often require just a high school diploma, although many states require some sort of registration or licensing, particularly for armed guards. You must be at least 18 years of age — 21 if armed — be able to pass a background check, possess strong communication skills, and attend a short class or two to become licensed. To see the specific requirements for your state, visit SecurityGuard-License.org.

It is not unusual for public or corporate security companies looking for entry-level security officers to supply and pay for any of the necessary licensing or training, so this isn’t usually something you need to worry about in advance.

Because entry-level security officer job requirements tend to be fairly low, starting wages often are, as well. The median full-time salary in 2019 was $29,680 per year. Still, this field contains room to grow; it’s possible to work your way up into management positions in time, which can pay considerably more.

Security guard jobs can be found by checking job postings or career pages for some of the top national security companies for openings in your area, including:

• G4S, a multinational company with a wide range of security-related career opportunities in both the government sector and corporations.
• Allied Universal, which employs more than 200,000 security officers and has roles in commercial security services for manufacturing facilities, college campuses, and other similar facilities.
• Securitas, a large multinational provider of commercial security services.

If you enter the field as a security guard, it is possible to work your way up to higher positions. Supervisors, managers, and directors of security operations can have varying levels of responsibilities, including overseeing the work of other team members, planning and developing security solutions and procedures, assessing the security and surveillance needs of a client, and reporting to others in the chain of command.

A few years of experience as a security professional is usually needed, and depending on the position, you may also need an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in management or a security-related field.

Not surprisingly, the additional responsibilities of management roles come with greater pay. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), first-line full-time security supervisors earn a median annual salary of $50,490, with the top 10% earning $81,380.

Supervisory, management, and director roles can be found by performing similar searches as described in the previous section for entry-level security officer roles, as the companies hiring for those positions tend to hire for these, as well.

Many opportunities exist within the court and prison system, including jobs in corrections or as a bailiff. Duties include enforcing rules and order within jails, supervising the activities of inmates, maintaining the security of the general site, and escorting prisoners and detainees to court or other facilities.

Requirements for such roles vary by state and depend on whether you are working for a federal, state, or local prison. At the state level, only a high school diploma is often required, but you may enter a training program upon hire that may last several months. State requirements can be found on the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) portal. To work for a federal prison, entry-level officers must possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

As of 2019, the median salary for full-time correctional officers and bailiffs was $45,300 per year. Open positions can often be found by visiting government job search websites or the job listing pages for particular facilities.

One of the more exciting — but also more dangerous — security professions is that of the bounty hunter. Bounty hunters are responsible for tracking down criminals and those who have not paid their bail or have violated their parole conditions.

In some states, bounty hunters aren’t explicitly legal, and bail bond agents or private investigators take on this role. In other states, the private bail system has been abolished, and law enforcement performs fugitive recovery.

If you have prior experience in law enforcement, the military, or similar professions, you may be able to become a bounty hunter without any additional training. Otherwise, you may need to obtain a two-year criminal justice degree first. Some institutions even offer training specifically for bounty hunters. Exact training and licensing requirements vary by state and can be found on the How to Become a Bounty Hunter website.

Bounty hunter salaries vary widely. A breakdown of typical bounty hunter salaries can be found on BountyHunterEdu.org. Typically, bounty hunters are paid a portion of the value of the bond of the fugitive they capture — usually between 10% and 25%.

Bodyguards or those working in the field of executive protection are responsible for guarding the safety of a particular individual — usually a VIP such as a head of state or high-profile celebrity. Duties may include accompanying the person to events, monitoring the vicinity of their home, and being able to immediately react when needed.

To break into the field of personal protection, you often need to attend a training program and receive a license from your state. Check with local state authorities to see what might be required. If you have a military background or former law enforcement experience, this can give you a leg up over others in the field.

Bodyguarding is one of the more challenging security jobs because you must be constantly vigilant, know how to identify a threat before something happens, and act quickly to protect your client and get them to a safe place in an emergency. Although salaries vary widely, many full-time bodyguards make more than $70,000 a year.

To find physical security jobs in executive protection, it is often a good idea to connect with a staffing agency. A few agencies include:

• USPA Nationwide Security
• Lasorsa and Associates
• Private Bodyguard Service

Armored car or truck drivers are security specialists responsible for transporting and delivering valuable items, including cash, jewelry, and important documents. It may also be required that the driver carry a firearm during duty for additional protection. Requirements for entry into this field are similar to those of entry-level security guards, with one difference: if you are driving, you will need a clean driving record.

Typical salaries for armored drivers are between $24,660 and $37,740 each year. Armed couriers can often find work with one of the major national corporate security companies, including Brinks, GardaWorld, and Loomis, all members of the National Armored Car Association. In addition to the large national companies, you can see if there are local armed courier services in your area and check for openings with them.

Finding the right job type doesn’t have to be a hassle. If you want to break into the security industry, start your search today with Joblist. By answering a few short questions, we can quickly generate a list of job alerts personalized to you. If you’re not ready to apply right away, you can even save your favorite job descriptions and return to them later.

Begin by checking out our list of local security guard roles, armed security officer roles, and armed guard roles. We also have articles designed to help you navigate the employment landscape and additional employment types beyond security. Whether you are changing careers, trying to improve your resume, or preparing for an interview, we’ve got you covered.