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How to hire a park guard

Park guard hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring park guards in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a park guard is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new park guard to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a park guard, step by step

To hire a park guard, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a park guard, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step park guard hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a park guard job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new park guard
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The park guard hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect park guard also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list presents park guard salaries for various positions.

    Type of Park GuardDescriptionHourly rate
    Park GuardSecurity guards and gaming surveillance officers patrol and protect property against theft, vandalism, terrorism, and illegal activity.$13-21
    Non-Commissioned OfficerA non-commissioned officer (NCO) is responsible for maintaining peace and order during military operations and training. Non-commissioned officers' duties include leading soldiers' training for military operations, responding to the soldiers' concerns that involve their physical and mental well-being, and utilizing military equipment and tools properly while following strict regulatory procedures... Show more$37-68
    SecurityA Security's main responsibility is to keep people or an establishment safe. This responsibility is carried out by constantly patrolling a designated area and monitoring the activity within the premises... Show more$11-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patrol
    • Customer Service
    • Two-Way Radio
    Responsibilities:
    • Patrol parks, keep daily log, help patrons with lodge reservations, park activities and security.
    • Patrol and secure building and surrounding property; monitor CCTV's and utilize radio communications.
    • Driver-Perform operator/crew maintenance on the ammunition resupply vehicle and trailer.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your park guard job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A park guard salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, park guards' average salary in mississippi is 47% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level park guards earn 38% less than senior-level park guards.
    • Certifications. A park guard with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a park guard's salary.

    Average park guard salary

    $36,336yearly

    $17.47 hourly rate

    Entry-level park guard salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 20, 2026
  4. Writing a park guard job description

    A park guard job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a park guard job description:

    Park guard job description example


    At Delaware North, we care about our associates' professional and personal wellbeing. We have a comprehensive benefits program designed to give our associates the comfort, safety, and stability they need to deliver exceptional service to our guests. All associates are eligible for benefits including weekly pay, employee assistance program, training and development, employee discounts, and flexible work schedules. Medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, and tuition reimbursement are available for eligible associates.

    Responsibilities
    • Deliver beverages and other products throughout the facility, in an efficient and timely manner.
    • Stock product in beverage storage; ensures that inventory levels of supplies are maintained.
    • Report all needed repairs to the supervisor.
    • Keep work area and equipment neat and clean.
    • Empty trash containers and delivers trash to appropriate dumpsters if needed.
    • Perform other duties as assigned.
    Qualifications
    • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
    • Ability to work cooperatively with others.
    • Ability to read and interpret delivery forms and purchase orders.
    • Basic math skills for counting inventory.
    • Ability to follow job procedures and supervisor instructions.
    Physical Requirements
    • Ability to lift, move or maneuver up to 165 pounds.
    • Ability to pull heavy carts of stock throughout the facility.
    • Frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, lifting and reaching, during the entire length of shift.
    • Exposed to outdoors and variable temperatures, including extreme hot and cold, depending on the season.
    • Exposed to fumes from delivery trucks and other equipment.
    Who We Are

    Delaware North has operated concessions, premium dining and retail services at Petco Park since 2004. The 42,445-seat venue is home of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. We provide an upscale dining experience, including a private chef tasting room.

    At Delaware North, you'll love where you work, who you work with, and how your day unfolds. Whether it's in sporting venues, casinos, airports, national parks, iconic hotels, or premier restaurants, there's no telling where your career can ultimately take you. We empower you to do great work in a company with 100 years of success, stability and growth. If you have drive and enjoy the thrill of making things happen - share our vision and grow with us.

    Delaware North Companies, Incorporated and its subsidiaries consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. Delaware North is an equal opportunity employer.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right park guard for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with park guards they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit park guards who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your park guard job on Zippia to find and recruit park guard candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting park guards requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new park guard

    Once you have selected a candidate for the park guard position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new park guard. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a park guard?

Before you start to hire park guards, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire park guards pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for park guards is $36,336 in the US. However, the cost of park guard hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a park guard for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $13 and $21 an hour.

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