How to Find and Qualify for the Highest-Paying Overnight Security Jobs

Security is needed in a variety of locales including airports, casinos, nightclubs, and high-end retail. It’s also a job that requires staffing 24/7, since many of the crimes that security guards are meant to prevent — like theft — are more likely to occur outside of standard business hours.

Overnight security work can be appealing for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you have daytime commitments like school or child care, or maybe you have another job during the day and want to pick up some extra cash at night. This gig is also ideal if you’re looking for a non-corporate job outside of the typical 9 to 5 office environment.

Whatever your motivation may be, you will find ample opportunities awaiting you in the nighttime security field. The job outlook for security guards is good, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which predicts growth of 4% in the field from 2018 to 2028.

Read on to learn more about what you can expect from overnight security jobs, the credentials and skills needed to work in the field, and how to find the highest-paying overnight security jobs.

Public or private companies may employ security guards. Possible places of work include office buildings, college campuses, banks, retail stores, and more. The job involves patrolling and monitoring premises in person, frequently on foot, and sometimes with the help of closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras.

Guards work in shifts and often in teams, splitting duties between in-person and CCTV monitoring. The overnight security officer’s job is generally to guard cash, valuables, or boundaries. They are also responsible for public safety — for example, watching over students when patrolling a college campus. While the primary aim is to prevent crimes from happening, guards may also have to take action to apprehend criminals, working with local law enforcement.

There is no blanket minimum educational requirement to work as an unarmed overnight security guard (more on armed security guards below). That said, every state has different licensing regulations for the security profession.

For example, in Washington, D.C., you must complete a state-approved security guard training program and pass a written exam administered by the state. In Georgia, security guards don’t need a formal license. You just have to complete a 24-hour classroom training program accredited by the Georgia Board of Private Detectives & Security Agencies.

Although licensing requirements vary from one employer to the next, most require you to meet these minimum requirements:

• Minimum age of 18 (or 21, in the case of armed guards)
• High school diploma or GED
• Reliable means of transportation to get to and from job sites
• Reliable means of communication (including a mobile phone)
• Reading and writing skills
• Willingness to undergo a drug screen and background check

If you are interested in working as an armed security guard, you will have to complete a firearms training and be licensed to carry a weapon in your state. This process varies between states.

Armed security guards also face more stringent pre-employment screening measures. They may be subject to fingerprinting, a physical exam, a psychiatric evaluation, and additional background screening. For example, persons with military backgrounds may be required to document their type of discharge.

In most cases, formal education isn’t needed to score an entry-level role in the above concentrations. Employers may require a GED or high school diploma. If you want to advance to more senior positions, you may need additional certifications or education. However, when starting, there are a few personal characteristics that employers look for.

Security is a physical job. You will be on your feet for at least part of your shift, patrolling your assigned area. You need to have a reasonable level of physical fitness. You also must be in good mental and physical health to carry a firearm and will likely be required to pass screenings attesting to your fitness to work with a potentially lethal weapon.

Overnight security jobs are often quite solitary, requiring you to patrol alone or with just one other person. You must have excellent communication skills nonetheless, however. For example, if you have to call local law enforcement to report criminal activity, you must tell them quickly and clearly what’s happening.

Security guards are essentially tasked with noticing when something is “off.” A small thing that might look like no big deal to someone else, like a broken CCTV camera or a door left ajar, could mean a potential security breach. You must be able to notice details like this both in person and when watching CCTV footage.

As an overnight security guard, you likely won’t have a boss looking over your shoulder. The work is largely self-motivated. It’s up to you to stay alert and ensure that nothing goes wrong under your watch.

As an overnight security guard, you keep watch over valuables, like products, cash, legal documentation, or intellectual property secrets. All of these items have value. You must have the integrity to guard them without being tempted to take advantage of the insider access you have to them.

Before you start your job search, research your state’s security guard requirements to see whether you need a license or not. Your state police department’s website is a good place to start. Even if no formal license is required, you will be more attractive to employees if you have completed some training. Many community colleges offer security guard training programs.

Beyond this, there are added steps you can take to secure more lucrative gigs in the overnight security field.

Carrying a firearm brings a significantly higher level of responsibility with it. This weapon is potentially fatal if not used correctly. With this added responsibility in mind, armed security jobs tend to pay more than those for unarmed security. These jobs also involve protecting more valuable assets (see the point on targeting lucrative fields below).

Even if you’ve never worked as a security guard before, other types of experience may be relevant. If you’ve worked in law enforcement, served in the military, or were in the ROTC, this will give you a competitive edge. More informal experience working as a bouncer or volunteer doing crowd control at events is likewise handy. Many employers also value customer service experience since this frequently requires diffusing tension.

Finally, when it comes to the job hunt, there are certain fields you can target to find the highest-paying overnight security jobs. Three things generally determine how lucrative a position is: the location, the value of assets being protected, and the amount of inherent risk those first two points bring.

Consider working at a shopping mall versus working at a bank, for example. The bank holds more valuables, like cash and contents of safe deposit boxes. It’s thus more attractive to criminals looking to score big and willing to use more extreme measures such as violence to infiltrate the premises. The latter job carries more risk with it and will likely be higher paid.

Keep the above points in mind as you prepare for your job search. When crafting your resume, highlight relevant credentials, licenses, and experience. Lining up personal references to attest to personal qualities like integrity will also prove useful. Finally, be prepared to comply with pre-employment screening measures like drug tests.

Joblist has resources that can help you in your search for the highest-paying overnight security jobs. Check out Joblist’s handy guides, like how to do a social media background check before your potential employer does. When you’re ready, all you have to do is search our platform to find security opportunities in your area today.