Park guard vs lead security officer

The differences between park 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 $36,336 average annual salary of a park guard.

The top three skills for a park guard include patrol, customer service and two-way radio. The most important skills for a lead security officer are patrol, security procedures, and emergency situations.

Park guard vs lead security officer overview

	Park Guard	Lead Security Officer
Yearly salary	$36,336	$43,560
Hourly rate	$17.47	$20.94
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	16,812	114,945
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

Park guard vs lead security officer salary

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

	Park Guard	Lead Security Officer
Average salary	$36,336	$43,560
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $45,000	Between $24,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	-	Arlington, VA
Highest paying state	-	Virginia
Best paying company	-	Microsoft
Best paying industry	-	Start-up

Differences between park guard and lead security officer education

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

	Park Guard	Lead Security Officer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Park guard vs lead security officer demographics

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

	Park Guard	Lead Security Officer
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6%	Male, 76.2% Female, 23.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 4.9% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%	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 Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between park guard and lead security officer duties and responsibilities

Park guard example 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.

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.

Park guard vs lead security officer skills

Common park guard skills

Patrol, 77%
Customer Service, 16%
Two-Way Radio, 6%

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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Protective Service Industry
Park Guard
Park Guard vs Lead Security Officer

Updated January 8, 2025

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