Lesson 1 of 7 · 3 min read
What a security officer does
Deter, observe, report and help. Here is what the job looks like day to day, and what it pays.
The core of the job
Most security work comes down to four things:
- Deter. A visible, alert officer makes a place less attractive for theft, trespassing and trouble. Being seen is part of the job.
- Observe. Notice people, vehicles, hazards and anything out of the ordinary.
- Report. Tell the right people quickly (your supervisor, the client, police or fire) and write it down accurately.
- Help. Give directions, escort people, open doors, answer questions. On most posts, customer service fills more of the shift than incidents do.
Where security officers work
- Fixed posts: a store entrance, a building lobby, a front desk, a construction gate.
- Patrols: walking rounds through a property, or a roving vehicle patrol that covers several sites.
- Events: concerts, games, festivals and private events, often part-time.
- Settings: retail and grocery stores, apartment and condo buildings, offices, hospitals, campuses, warehouses and construction sites.
Unarmed and armed
Most officers start unarmed. Armed positions need extra state training, a firearms qualification that is renewed regularly, and usually more experience. They often pay more. This course covers unarmed basics only.
Security officers are not police
A security officer's authority comes from the property owner, the employer's written instructions (post orders) and state law. In most places that authority is limited, and the usual rule is observe and report: call the police rather than act like them. Washington DC is a special case: a commissioned Special Police Officer (SPO) has arrest authority, but only on the property they are assigned to. Lesson 3 covers this.
Pay and jobs
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Median pay for security guards and gambling surveillance officers was $38,390 a year ($18.46 an hour) in 2024. Pay varies a lot by city, post and whether the job is armed.
- There were about 1.27 million of these jobs in 2024.
- Total jobs are expected to stay about the same through 2034, but about 162,300 openings a year are projected, mostly to replace people who change jobs or retire.
- The usual starting education is a high school diploma or equivalent, plus on-the-job training.
Key points
- The job is deter, observe, report and help. Customer service is a big part of it.
- Officers work fixed posts, foot or vehicle patrols, and events.
- Security officers are not police. In DC, an SPO's arrest authority applies only on the assigned property.
- BLS 2024 median pay: $38,390 a year. About 162,300 openings a year are projected.
Picture it
A morning shift at a grocery store entrance. You greet shoppers, help an older customer find a cart, notice a spill near the produce section and radio a store employee, and watch a man who has walked the same aisle three times. You don't confront him; you stay visible, note what he is wearing, and let the manager know.
Nothing dramatic happened, and that is a good shift. Presence, attention and a quick word to the right person did the work.
Resources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Security Guards
Official pay, job outlook and what the work involves, nationwide and by state. Use it to compare security work with other careers.
- CareerOneStop: Security Guards occupation profile
Pay in your state and city, typical duties and skills, and links to local jobs and training.