How To Become A Head Of Security: What It Is and Career Path

What is a head of security and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

For the role of head of security, organizations look for an individual that has a solid background in computers, is a great problem-solver, exhibits great communication skills, and has extensive knowledge and experience about security--as well as the organization they will be protecting.

The head of security is responsible for maintaining the security of the premises, people, and assets of the organization. On a typical day, the head of security ensures that security measures are properly implemented, educates and trains security personnel, and develops security processes to reduce risk and limit liability for the organization. In short, the role comes with a lot of responsibilities that are critical for the company's safety and security.

To qualify for the role of head of security, one must have at least a bachelor's degree in business, computing, or something else relevant. Extensive experience in a leadership role is also a common requirement for many companies.

Given the huge amount of responsibility of this position, a head of security earns an annual salary of around $194,000, with some of the top earners making up to $268,000 a year.

ScoreHead Of SecurityUS Average

Salary

9.0

Avg. Salary $154,257

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.58%

Asian 6.08%

Black or African American 11.97%

Hispanic or Latino 19.32%

Unknown 5.30%

White 55.76%

Gender

female 6.44%

male 93.56%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.4

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a head of security

Explore head of security education requirements

Most common head of security degrees

Bachelor's

38.4 %

High School Diploma

23.3 %

Associate

21.7 %

Start to develop specific head of security skills

Skills	Percentages
Cloud Security	33.65%
Security Procedures	11.58%
Emergency Situations	6.06%
IDS	3.77%
Security Operations	3.69%

Complete relevant head of security training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New heads of security learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a head of security based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real head of security resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed head of security usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you don't need to pass an exam to become a licensed head of security in most of states. 30 states require heads of security to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alabama	-	-	Licensed Personal Security Officer
Maryland	-	-	GUARDS
Alaska	Specific course required	-	Security Guard
Arkansas	Specific course required	State exam required	Private Security Officer (PSO)
California	Specific course required	State exam required	Security Guard Registration

Research head of security duties and responsibilities

Monitor CCTV systems, tracking software, and patrols for potential security risks.
Monitor campus building activity via CCTV, key control access systems and officer patrol.
Supervise the escort and security (to and from the establishment) of celebrity, high-profile and VIP clientele.
Provide personnel VIP security and professional athlete

Prepare your head of security resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your head of security resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a head of security resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable head of security resume templates

Build a professional head of security resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your head of security resume.