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Job outlook for physical security engineers in the United States
Are physical security engineer jobs in demand?
Physical security engineer job and salary trends over time
Physical security engineer jobs over time
Physical security engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 105 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 94 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 141 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 137 | 0.00% |
Average physical security engineer salary over time
Physical security engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,784 | $40.76 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $81,990 | $39.42 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $80,134 | $38.53 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $77,820 | $37.41 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | $75,449 | $36.27 | +2.8% |
Physical security engineer jobs by state
Most common states for physical security engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 469 | 68% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 211 | 34% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 307 | 32% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 311 | 29% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 201 | 27% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 460 | 24% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,952 | 23% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,259 | 23% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 136 | 23% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,510 | 22% |
| 11 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,586 | 21% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 183 | 21% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,549 | 20% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 831 | 20% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 712 | 20% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 618 | 20% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,419 | 19% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,713 | 19% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,327 | 19% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 399 | 19% |
Most common cities for physical security engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $80,755 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $82,718 |
| 3 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $80,368 |
| 4 | Juneau | 1 | 3% | $84,699 |
| 5 | Peachtree City | 1 | 3% | $67,864 |
| 6 | Huntsville | 2 | 1% | $76,418 |
| 7 | Orlando | 2 | 1% | $63,963 |
| 8 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $81,790 |
| 9 | Kissimmee | 1 | 1% | $63,823 |
| 10 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $79,154 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $68,333 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $71,990 |
| 13 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $75,959 |
| 14 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $87,812 |
| 15 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $78,544 |
| 16 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $77,715 |
| 17 | Montgomery | 1 | 0% | $73,295 |
| 18 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $110,021 |
Physical Security Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of physical security engineer experts
Northwood University
Albertus Magnus College
Medaille College
Professor David Sanford
Associate Professor an Department Chair (MIS, CS, CYB MGT, IS CYB)Northwood University
Computer And Information Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Physical Security Engineer?
Professor David Sanford: Workers like that they are challenged to solve problems and lead technological innovations.
They appreciate the diversity of projects
They enjoy the need for continuous improvement and education
Many see the global impact of their work.
They also desire and appreciate the need for versatile skills
A competitive salary is also an item that employees like
Workers dislike that the work can be stressful
Dealing with tight deadlines and/ or cybersecurity concerns.
This is a positive and a negative: The need to constantly stay up to date with technology can be a bit overwhelming for some.
There may be times of isolation, and
The unexpected system failures can be frustrating as they often require extra hours or the need to be on-call.
The multiple responsibilities and managing repetitive tasks are also issues workers point out in this field.
In short, the workplace offers exciting opportunities but comes with its fair share of pressures and challenges. Different people have different experiences based on their roles and personal preferences.
David Garaventa
Director, Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity Programs, Assistant Professor, CISAlbertus Magnus College
Business Administration and Management Department
What skills stand out on Physical Security Engineer resumes?
David Garaventa: The skills/attributes required across a variety of jobs in the IT fields.
Dr. Steven MacMartin
Director, Associate ProfessorMedaille College
Homeland Security Program
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Physical Security Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Steven MacMartin: Overall, in general? Health care, elementary school teachers, daycare, researchers at the PhD level and also low level, entry/service jobs - fast food, restaurant, bar, etc. Homeland Security specifically - really none. Jobs in the Homeland Security field have remained largely unaffected by the pandemic, and the pandemic isn't really directly related to specific Homeland Security jobs. (Maybe in the research and technology fields.). A side effect of the pandemic has been to focus a little on cyber security issues and those jobs could expand in law enforcement and Homeland Security areas.
What soft skills should all Physical Security Engineers possess?
Dr. Steven MacMartin: Absolutely - writing and oral presentation. A secondary skill that is helpful is academic research skills. But definitely writing skills.
How have salaries changed over time for Physical Security Engineers?
Dr. Steven MacMartin: Salaries have steadily risen over time. A person at my level in government is currently making $20,000/year more than I was making when I retired 10 years ago. The same can be said for many areas of law enforcement, but not all.