Security Managers Career, Salary and Skills
Security Managers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $106,660 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 156,180. Wage data is published for 406 locations.
Occupation description
Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.
O*NET code
11-3013.01
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$106,660
Hourly median
$51.28
Employment
156,180
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.25 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.12 | 3.75 |
| Active Listening | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.00 | 3.75 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Coordination | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Writing | 3.75 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Develop budgets for security operations.
- Identify, investigate, or resolve security breaches.
- Plan, direct, or coordinate security activities to safeguard company employees, guests, or others on company property.
- Direct or participate in emergency management and contingency planning.
- Respond to medical emergencies, bomb threats, fire alarms, or intrusion alarms, following emergency response procedures.
- Analyze and evaluate security operations to identify risks or opportunities for improvement through auditing, review, or assessment.
- Create or implement security standards, policies, and procedures.
- Plan security for special and high-risk events.
Technology
- Alarm system software
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Emergency notification system software
- FieldSoft AIMSonScene
- Firewall software
- Graphics software
- Human resources management system HRMS
- Incident command system ICS software
- Inventory tracking software
- Maintenance management software
- Mapping software
- McAfee
Security Managers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Security Managers Salary in CAMedian $118,620 · Employment 20,550
- Security Managers Salary in TXMedian $99,430 · Employment 13,140
- Security Managers Salary in New York, NYMedian $134,010 · Employment 10,210
- Security Managers Salary in NYMedian $131,350 · Employment 9,580
- Security Managers Salary in ILMedian $106,980 · Employment 9,180
- Security Managers Salary in FLMedian $98,780 · Employment 8,620
- Security Managers Salary in PAMedian $95,290 · Employment 6,870
- Security Managers Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $113,150 · Employment 6,790
- Security Managers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $114,970 · Employment 6,630
- Security Managers Salary in MAMedian $124,100 · Employment 6,070
- Security Managers Salary in OHMedian $97,740 · Employment 6,030
- Security Managers Salary in NJMedian $124,110 · Employment 5,690
Related careers
- Computer and Information Systems ManagersNational median $175,140
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling InvestigatorsNational median $43,370
- Administrative Services ManagersNational median $114,130
- Intelligence AnalystsNational median $93,790
- Loss Prevention ManagersNational median $141,900
- Digital Forensics AnalystsNational median $116,580
- Retail Loss Prevention SpecialistsNational median $42,540
- Information Security AnalystsNational median $129,180
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.