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Armed guard vs lead security officer

The differences between armed guards and lead security officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead security officer has an average salary of $43,560, which is higher than the $43,189 average annual salary of an armed guard.

The top three skills for an armed guard include patrol, medical emergencies and national security. The most important skills for a lead security officer are patrol, security procedures, and emergency situations.

Armed guard vs lead security officer overview

Armed GuardLead Security Officer
Yearly salary$43,189$43,560
Hourly rate$20.76$20.94
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs74,257114,945
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age4343
Years of experience--

Armed guard vs lead security officer salary

Armed guards and lead security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Armed GuardLead Security Officer
Average salary$43,189$43,560
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $59,000Between $24,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CityAnchorage, AKArlington, VA
Highest paying stateAlaskaVirginia
Best paying companyInter-Con Security SystemsMicrosoft
Best paying industryNon ProfitsStart-up

Differences between armed guard and lead security officer education

There are a few differences between an armed guard and a lead security officer in terms of educational background:

Armed GuardLead Security Officer
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Armed guard vs lead security officer demographics

Here are the differences between armed guards' and lead security officers' demographics:

Armed GuardLead Security Officer
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 84.5% Female, 15.5%Male, 76.2% Female, 23.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 6.1% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 5.5% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between armed guard and lead security officer duties and responsibilities

Armed guard example responsibilities.

  • Check for safety violations such as proper PPE and H2S monitors.
  • Certify cpr and a first aid, enforce rest area rules, conduct incident reports and crime.
  • Allow customers and deliveries in and out of Menards' yard.
  • Receive, inventory, and issuing of ammunition to bases and unit throughout the country.
  • Provide foot patrols, and CCTV monitoring of medical facilities, as well as lock up and access control.
  • Verify that everyone has the required PPE, such as hard hat, safety glasses, and steel toe boots.
  • Show more

Lead security officer example responsibilities.

  • Maintain a certificate in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
  • Attend Supervisory/Managerial skills training, sexual harassment training, fire extinguisher training, CPR training.
  • Employ advanced police security skills and vigorous patrol techniques to observe and detect criminal activity.
  • Gather CCTV footage, employee/witness statements, and relevant documentation to support criminal proceedings against violators.
  • Maintain a standard of punctuality and dependability of attendance and retain myself cleanliness, tidiness, neatness and appropriately attire.
  • Solicit, host VIP members, clients, providing security and hospitality.
  • Show more

Armed guard vs lead security officer skills

Common armed guard skills
  • Patrol, 22%
  • Medical Emergencies, 11%
  • National Security, 8%
  • Emergency Situations, 7%
  • Law Enforcement, 7%
  • Traffic Control, 7%
Common lead security officer skills
  • Patrol, 19%
  • Security Procedures, 9%
  • Emergency Situations, 9%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Work Ethic, 7%
  • Incident Reports, 5%

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