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What is a lead security officer and how to become one
Lead security officers are responsible for investigating and reporting hazards, unusual or suspicious circumstances in a workplace. They manage the security team assigned to a particular shift and ensure that the work environment is safe and well-maintained. They also monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft. Lead security officers earn an average sum of $82,000 annually or $39 per hour.
Their duties include monitoring and authorizing entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft. They also patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect intrusion signs and ensure the security of doors, windows, and gates.
In terms of academic qualifications, lead security officers hold a bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited university. They are expected to have some years of experience in a similar role and the required certification. Some employers prefer candidates to make the right decisions swiftly and possess excellent communication and observation skills to boot.
Avg. Salary $43,560
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 3%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.59%
Asian 5.50%
Black or African American 13.53%
Hispanic or Latino 20.56%
Unknown 5.31%
White 53.51%
Genderfemale 23.81%
male 76.19%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Lead security officer career paths
Key steps to become a lead security officer
Explore lead security officer education requirements
Start to develop specific lead security officer skills
Skills Percentages Patrol 19.35% Security Procedures 9.48% Emergency Situations 8.87% Customer Service 8.59% Work Ethic 7.39% Complete relevant lead security officer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead security officers 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 lead security officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead security officer resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed lead security officer usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you don't need to pass an exam to become a licensed lead security officer in most of states. 30 states require lead security officers 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 lead security officer duties and 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.
Get lead security officer experience
Prepare your lead security officer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead security officer 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 lead security officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable lead security officer resume templates
Build a professional lead security officer 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 lead security officer resume.
Apply for lead security officer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a lead security officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first lead security officer job
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Average lead security officer salary
The average lead security officer salary in the United States is $43,560 per year or $21 per hour. Lead security officer salaries range between $24,000 and $77,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do lead security officers rate their job?
Lead security officer reviews
Meeting a lot of different people have helped people in this job
The pay is not worth what you have to do sometimes
Protecting people and the property where I’m sign at.
There’s nothing about the officer that I don’t like
Yes because is a job that deal with helping people that your help and there's a wonderful happiness while working properly and helping people at the sometime.
One sometimes people will not like you but they need a help from you but to me a don't call it anything now because I know the status of the job even in a building I have work in that area as a security guard department with my license from United Arab Emirates.
Updated January 8, 2025
