Security Guards
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
- O*NET-SOC code
33-9032.00 - Preparation Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$38,020
Employment, U.S.1,283,470
Median hourly wage$18.28
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,210 | $35,210 | $38,020 | $46,200 | $58,840 |
By state (51)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15,210 | $33,720 | 0.87 |
| Alaska | 2,100 | $47,480 | 0.78 |
| Arizona | 29,820 | $38,290 | 1.12 |
| Arkansas | 6,390 | $35,770 | 0.59 |
| California | 199,480 | $43,240 | 1.33 |
| Colorado | 16,890 | $45,150 | 0.71 |
| Connecticut | 12,100 | $39,920 | 0.86 |
| Delaware | 3,430 | $36,360 | 0.86 |
| District of Columbia | 15,880 | $64,210 | 2.74 |
| Florida | 95,370 | $35,900 | 1.16 |
| Georgia | 36,210 | $34,980 | 0.90 |
| Hawaii | 10,160 | $42,820 | 1.96 |
| Idaho | 3,750 | $38,300 | 0.53 |
| Illinois | 53,830 | $39,490 | 1.07 |
| Indiana | 19,930 | $36,490 | 0.75 |
| Iowa | 6,890 | $37,080 | 0.54 |
| Kansas | 7,150 | $37,080 | 0.60 |
| Kentucky | 13,580 | $35,420 | 0.82 |
| Louisiana | 17,210 | $32,240 | 1.08 |
| Maine | 1,930 | $39,100 | 0.36 |
| Maryland | 27,670 | $38,220 | 1.21 |
| Massachusetts | 23,930 | $44,670 | 0.80 |
| Michigan | 25,240 | $37,080 | 0.69 |
| Minnesota | 14,440 | $43,380 | 0.59 |
| Mississippi | 10,160 | $29,180 | 1.06 |
| Missouri | 18,630 | $40,390 | 0.77 |
| Montana | 1,610 | $38,480 | 0.38 |
| Nebraska | 4,700 | $39,840 | 0.56 |
| Nevada | 26,680 | $37,310 | 2.08 |
| New Hampshire | 2,450 | $45,200 | 0.43 |
| New Jersey | 41,540 | $38,880 | 1.17 |
| New Mexico | 8,410 | $43,320 | 1.17 |
| New York | 134,700 | $44,240 | 1.68 |
| North Carolina | 29,830 | $35,010 | 0.73 |
| North Dakota | 1,310 | $39,310 | 0.37 |
| Ohio | 34,450 | $35,770 | 0.75 |
| Oklahoma | 12,210 | $36,270 | 0.87 |
| Oregon | 12,200 | $45,500 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | 43,610 | $37,050 | 0.87 |
| Rhode Island | 3,160 | $36,940 | 0.76 |
| South Carolina | 16,610 | $35,460 | 0.87 |
| South Dakota | 1,460 | $37,150 | 0.39 |
| Tennessee | 27,690 | $36,000 | 1.02 |
| Texas | 106,210 | $35,980 | 0.91 |
| Utah | 7,310 | $42,700 | 0.51 |
| Vermont | 930 | $45,550 | 0.37 |
| Virginia | 34,870 | $43,640 | 1.03 |
| Washington | 25,800 | $47,100 | 0.88 |
| West Virginia | 5,200 | $28,800 | 0.90 |
| Wisconsin | 12,030 | $37,440 | 0.50 |
| Wyoming | 1,130 | $39,200 | 0.49 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | 1-2 | 0.935 |
| 2 | Fish and Game Wardens | 3 | 0.933 |
| 3 | Transit and Railroad Police | 3 | 0.932 |
| 4 | Animal Control Workers | 1-2 | 0.928 |
| 5 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 3 | 0.921 |
| 6 | Public Safety Telecommunicators | 1-2 | 0.916 |
| 7 | Retail Loss Prevention Specialists | 1-2 | 0.915 |
| 8 | Home Health Aides | 1-2 | 0.913 |
| 9 | Security Managers | 4 | 0.911 |
| 10 | Correctional Officers and Jailers | 1-2 | 0.910 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Security Guards, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Control Workers | Time Management | 0.88 | 0.928 |
| Retail Loss Prevention Specialists | Systems Analysis | 1.50 | 0.915 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | Time Management | 0.88 | 0.910 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | Operation and Control | 0.88 | 0.898 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Security Guards, excluding software Security Guards already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Law enforcement information databases | 4 of 20 | 30.8x |
| National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database | 4 of 20 | 16.8x |
| Computer aided dispatch software | 3 of 20 | 17.3x |
| Mapping software | 4 of 20 | 8.4x |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 17 of 20 | 1.2x |
| Microsoft Access | 11 of 20 | 1.4x |
| Web browser software | 12 of 20 | 1.3x |
| 4 of 20 | 1.4x | |
| Microsoft Windows | 6 of 20 | 1.1x |
| Linux | 3 of 20 | 1.1x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.75 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.50 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.38 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.38 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.25 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.12 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.38 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.38 | 0.50 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 1.38 | 0.50 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Public Safety and Security | 4.74 | 5.79 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.54 | 5.77 |
| English Language | 4.32 | 5.42 |
| Computers and Electronics | 4.09 | 4.87 |
| Administration and Management | 3.99 | 3.99 |
| Education and Training | 3.83 | 5.16 |
| Telecommunications | 3.81 | 4.15 |
| Administrative | 3.74 | 4.43 |
| Law and Government | 3.55 | 3.78 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 3.15 | 3.17 |
| Psychology | 3.09 | 3.50 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 3.05 | 3.34 |
| Foreign Language | 2.97 | 3.46 |
| Transportation | 2.96 | 3.00 |
| Communications and Media | 2.96 | 2.64 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.95 | 3.04 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 2.82 | 3.51 |
| Geography | 2.79 | 3.27 |
| Production and Processing | 2.78 | 3.56 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.74 | 3.07 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 2.65 | 3.12 |
| History and Archeology | 2.62 | 2.68 |
| Design | 2.57 | 2.49 |
| Biology | 2.53 | 2.84 |
| Building and Construction | 2.47 | 2.52 |
| Mechanical | 2.40 | not rated |
| Mathematics | 2.37 | not rated |
| Engineering and Technology | 2.36 | 2.88 |
| Food Production | 2.29 | 2.25 |
| Fine Arts | 2.28 | 2.50 |
| Physics | 2.08 | not rated |
| Chemistry | 2.01 | not rated |
| Sales and Marketing | 2.00 | 2.15 |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Far Vision | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Selective Attention | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Oral Expression | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Near Vision | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Information Ordering | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Written Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Perceptual Speed | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.88 | 2.50 |
| Written Expression | 2.88 | 2.50 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.88 | 2.38 |
| Time Sharing | 2.88 | 2.38 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.88 | 2.25 |
| Static Strength | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Stamina | 2.75 | 2.38 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.50 | 2.38 |
| Visualization | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Response Orientation | 2.38 | 2.00 |
| Spatial Orientation | 2.38 | 2.00 |
| Control Precision | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Originality | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Category Flexibility | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Memorization | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Reaction Time | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Rate Control | 2.25 | 1.62 |
| Depth Perception | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Explosive Strength | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Glare Sensitivity | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Manual Dexterity | 2.12 | 1.62 |
| Night Vision | 2.12 | 1.50 |
| Peripheral Vision | 2.12 | 1.38 |
| Extent Flexibility | 2.00 | 2.12 |
| Finger Dexterity | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Sound Localization | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Number Facility | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 1.88 | 1.12 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.75 | 1.00 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel hot
- Microsoft Office software hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft SharePoint hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- FaceTime
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- McAfee
- NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
- Wireshark
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 22,420 | 3.93 | $21,840 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 23,800 | 2.54 | $37,210 |
| Charleston, WV | 2,160 | 2.52 | $20,800 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 8,440 | 2.29 | $42,580 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 2,870 | 2.06 | $39,900 |
| Flint, MI | 2,060 | 1.85 | $34,930 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 142,760 | 1.82 | $43,980 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 6,650 | 1.81 | $32,240 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 41,530 | 1.78 | $36,040 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 3,370 | 1.76 | $33,450 |