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Fire watchman vs security guard

The differences between fire watchmen and security guards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fire watchman has an average salary of $46,843, which is higher than the $31,983 average annual salary of a security guard.

The top three skills for a fire watchman include safety standards, construction sites and fire hazards. The most important skills for a security guard are customer service, patrol, and ladders.

Fire watchman vs security guard overview

Fire WatchmanSecurity Guard
Yearly salary$46,843$31,983
Hourly rate$22.52$15.38
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs3,482101,728
Job satisfaction54
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 42%
Average age4343
Years of experience--

Fire watchman vs security guard salary

Fire watchmen and security guards have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fire WatchmanSecurity Guard
Average salary$46,843$31,983
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $67,000Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City-Lakewood, WA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Best paying industry-Utilities

Differences between fire watchman and security guard education

There are a few differences between a fire watchman and a security guard in terms of educational background:

Fire WatchmanSecurity Guard
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 42%
Most common majorBusinessCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Fire watchman vs security guard demographics

Here are the differences between fire watchmen' and security guards' demographics:

Fire WatchmanSecurity Guard
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 77.8% Female, 22.2%Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 17.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between fire watchman and security guard duties and responsibilities

Fire watchman example responsibilities.

  • Direct maintenance and repair of firefighting equipment, or requisition new equipment.
  • Fire watch personnel maintain surveillance of areas where hot work--welding or cutting with torches--has occur.
  • Update critical standardization documents that establish the unit's procedures for conducting team certifications and operations in combat environments.
  • Coordinate and synchronize intelligence gathering assets with artillery, mortar, and aviation systems in support of complex tactical operations.

Security guard example responsibilities.

  • Assist employees with any and all concerns regarding payroll issues, insurance and requesting time off.
  • Certify in fire safety, adult/child CPR with mask and choking, adult/child a, infant CPR w/ mask and choking.
  • Distribute payroll checks to security officers.
  • Administer CPR and transport injured personnel to local medical facilities.
  • Monitor CCTV and other various intrusion detection security equipment for security issues.
  • Provide relief to other security officers while maintaining punctuality and building moral support.
  • Show more

Fire watchman vs security guard skills

Common fire watchman skills
  • Safety Standards, 83%
  • Construction Sites, 9%
  • Fire Hazards, 7%
Common security guard skills
  • Customer Service, 25%
  • Patrol, 17%
  • Ladders, 16%
  • Security Services, 6%
  • Emergency Situations, 4%
  • CPR, 3%

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