Security Guards Career, Salary and Skills
Security Guards have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $38,020 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 1,283,470. Wage data is published for 443 locations.
Occupation description
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
O*NET code
33-9032.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$38,020
Hourly median
$18.28
Employment
1,283,470
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.00 | 2.50 |
| Active Learning | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Persuasion | 2.88 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- FaceTime
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- McAfee
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
- Wireshark
Security Guards salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Security Guards Salary in CAMedian $43,240 · Employment 199,480
- Security Guards Salary in New York, NYMedian $43,980 · Employment 142,760
- Security Guards Salary in NYMedian $44,240 · Employment 134,700
- Security Guards Salary in TXMedian $35,980 · Employment 106,210
- Security Guards Salary in FLMedian $35,900 · Employment 95,370
- Security Guards Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $40,030 · Employment 83,280
- Security Guards Salary in ILMedian $39,490 · Employment 53,830
- Security Guards Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $39,990 · Employment 48,360
- Security Guards Salary in PAMedian $37,050 · Employment 43,610
- Security Guards Salary in NJMedian $38,880 · Employment 41,540
- Security Guards Salary in Miami, FLMedian $36,040 · Employment 41,530
- Security Guards Salary in Washington, DCMedian $46,830 · Employment 40,950
Related careers
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical TechniciansNational median $35,450
- Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except AviationNational median $92,100
- Airfield Operations SpecialistsNational median $56,850
- FirefightersNational median $59,280
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention SpecialistsNational median $56,870
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceNational median $50,340
- Fire Inspectors and InvestigatorsNational median $75,920
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersNational median $93,530
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.