How to hire a physical security specialist

How to hire a physical security specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step physical security specialist hiring guide:

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

What does a physical security specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a physical security specialist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A physical security specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, physical security specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of physical security specialist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Physical Security Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Physical Security Specialist		$23-54

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Law Enforcement
   • Physical Security
   • Control Systems
   • DOD
   • SCI
   • Fire Protection
   • Security Procedures
   • ICD
   • Risk Assessments
   • Intrusion Detection Systems
   • Criminal Justice
   • Corrective Action
   • Security Equipment
   • CCTV

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage security force training plan and review, analyze, and plan security and anti-terrorism training and drills.
   • Develop NIST compliant information security program.
   • Know how in working with technical equipment like CCTV, surveillance system etc.
   • Monitor alarms, motion sensors, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and other security systems, equipment and devices.
   • Gather and prepare necessary document need to obtain building access badge such as obtain DHS clearance and take photograph.
   • Create exceptions to policy to allow DoD personnel to escort more than the normally allot number of guests to DoD buildings.

   More physical security specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your physical security specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A physical security specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, physical security specialists' average salary in hawaii is 57% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level physical security specialists earn 58% less than senior-level physical security specialists.
   • Certifications. A physical security specialist 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 physical security specialist's salary.

   Average physical security specialist salary

   $74,038yearly

   $35.60 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level physical security specialist salary

   $48,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average physical security specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$112,580	$54
   2	New Jersey	$112,443	$54
   3	Maine	$103,632	$50
   4	District of Columbia	$101,550	$49
   5	Virginia	$96,244	$46
   6	Michigan	$93,501	$45
   7	Massachusetts	$90,489	$44
   8	Rhode Island	$90,246	$43
   9	Illinois	$89,746	$43
   10	Connecticut	$89,204	$43
   11	Texas	$87,108	$42
   12	Arizona	$86,293	$41
   13	Delaware	$86,065	$41
   14	Maryland	$84,613	$41
   15	California	$83,939	$40
   16	Tennessee	$78,233	$38
   17	Pennsylvania	$77,942	$37
   18	Georgia	$76,250	$37
   19	Oklahoma	$74,459	$36
   20	North Carolina	$72,579	$35

   Average physical security specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amazon	$102,341	$49.20	114
   2	Parsons	$96,622	$46.45	17
   3	TD Bank	$96,554	$46.42	30
   4	Fanatics	$94,640	$45.50	8
   5	Internal Revenue Service	$92,100	$44.28
   6	Froedtert Hospital	$91,907	$44.19	2
   7	Umpqua Bank	$88,678	$42.63
   8	ProSync	$87,310	$41.98	1
   9	USAA	$86,286	$41.48	4
   10	Precise Systems	$83,975	$40.37
   11	The PNC Financial Services Group	$83,618	$40.20	3
   12	Allen Institute	$83,420	$40.11
   13	The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory	$83,367	$40.08
   14	Zayo Group	$82,571	$39.70
   15	U.S. Department of State	$81,271	$39.07
   16	U.S. Secret Service	$80,211	$38.56
   17	HRL Laboratories	$80,190	$38.55
   18	DigitalGlobe	$79,109	$38.03
   19	Department of Homeland Security	$78,732	$37.85
   20	Leidos	$77,824	$37.42	69

4. Writing a physical security specialist job description

   A job description for a physical security specialist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a physical security specialist job description:

   Physical security specialist job description example

   Job Description Join a Cogswell Award winning, dynamic and growing team implementing and providing Security guidance to our Electronic Solutions Business Canal St., Nashua, NH facility. This is an opportunity to develop your career and grow your skills in a high intensity, team-based environment and become a part of the BAE Systems Security program.
   
   Because of the need for consistent, in-person collaboration and/or the requirement to perform all work onsite due to the nature of this particular role, it will be performed full-time on site. This means work will be conducted on location at a BAE Systems facility 100% of the time.This position reports to the Facility Security Officer (FSO), performing a wide variety of duties to assist the FSO in the implementation and maintenance of a complete industrial security program including, but not limited to alarm response, access management, badging, combination changes, physical security checks, document control, investigations, etc.
   The candidate must exercise discretion and independent judgement in performing the following tasks:
   
   * Performs all duties in accordance with DoD, UL 205 and NISPOM requirements related to Alarm response. Responsible for checking emergency exits, patrolling the interior and exterior of the campus.
   * In charge of area and container access, briefing personnel of their responsibilities for having access to containers and closed areas, maintaining access rosters, lock control and conducting audits of both areas and containers.
   * Responsible for writing and reviewing incident reports. Investigates security violations and prepares comprehensive reports for submission to the FSO for review and necessary action.
   * Responsible for covering breaks at the front desk; must learn the visitor control process to include badging of personnel/visitors, escorting and conducting bag checks.
   * Assists AFSO with Closed Area construction requirements and certification.
   * Create and modify badge accounts.
   * Monitors key control.
   
   Required Education, Experience, & Skills
   
   * This position has a high, mobile visibility during the day/business hours (7:00 am - 4:30 pm).
   * Position requires climbing, lifting, ability to move or lift 40 pounds, and long periods of standing and walking.
   * Must be able to prioritize and multi‐task and have strong customer service, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
   * Need to demonstrate a basic level of proficiency with standard applications software such as Word, Excel
   * Active Secret clearance is required, must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
   * Performs other duties and responsibilities as required.
   * High level of personal motivation and initiative to learn and acquire new skills, and adapt seamlessly to an ever-changing security environment
   * Top Secret security clearance eligibility
   
   Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
   
   * Experience with SIMS is preferred
   * National Industrial Security Program (NISP) experience
   * Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgement while complying with policies, procedures, appropriate principles
   * Customer focused, excellent communicator (written and verbal), and ability to work with limited supervision
   
   About BAE Systems Electronic Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems' game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere - from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact - for our customers and the communities we serve.
   
   Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
   
   At BAE Systems, we work hard every day to nurture an inclusive culture where employees are valued and feel like they belong. We are conscious of the need for all employees to see themselves reflected at every level of the company and know that in order to unlock the full potential of our workforce, everyone must feel confident being their best, most sincere self and be equipped to thrive. We provide impactful professional development experiences to our employees and invest in social impact partnerships to uplift communities and drive purposeful change. Here you will find significant opportunities to do meaningful work in an environment intentionally designed to be one where you will learn, grow and belong.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right physical security specialist 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 physical security specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit physical security specialists 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 physical security specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit physical security specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting physical security specialists 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 physical security specialist

   Once you've selected the best physical security specialist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new physical security specialist. 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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