Private security officer demographics and statistics in the US
Private security officer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates private security officer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our private security officer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about private security officers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 782,260 private security officers currently employed in the United States.
- 22.1% of all private security officers are women, while 77.9% are men.
- The average private security officer age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of private security officers is White (55.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (21.4%), Black or African American (11.2%) and Asian (5.4%).
- In 2022, women earned 99% of what men earned.
- 6% of all private security officers are LGBT.
- Private security officers are 81% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Private security officer demographics by:
Private security officer gender statistics
22.1% of private security officers are women and 77.9% of private security officers are men.
- Male, 77.9%
- Female, 22.1%
Private security officer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 77.9% |
| Female | 22.1% |
Private security officer gender pay gap
Women earn 99¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$31,925
Female income
$31,566
Private security officer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in private security officer positions over time. Currently, 22.1% of private security officers are female.
Private security officer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 80.16% | 19.84% |
| 2011 | 79.06% | 20.94% |
| 2012 | 80.14% | 19.86% |
| 2013 | 80.24% | 19.76% |
| 2014 | 79.49% | 20.51% |
| 2015 | 80.13% | 19.87% |
| 2016 | 79.79% | 20.21% |
| 2017 | 78.68% | 21.32% |
| 2018 | 79.44% | 20.56% |
| 2019 | 79.00% | 21.00% |
| 2020 | 77.08% | 22.92% |
| 2021 | 77.86% | 22.14% |
Private security officer related jobs gender ratio
We compared private security officers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, rescue boat operator and bodyguard have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Playground Monitor | 18% | 82% |
| School Crossing Guard | 21% | 79% |
| Crossing Guard | 23% | 77% |
| Private Security Officer | 78% | 22% |
| Bouncer | 94% | 6% |
| Bodyguard | 96% | 4% |
| Rescue Boat Operator | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Private security officer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among private security officers is White, which makes up 55.0% of all private security officers. Comparatively, 21.4% of private security officers are Hispanic or Latino and 11.2% of private security officers are Black or African American.
- White, 55.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 21.4%
- Black or African American, 11.2%
- Unknown, 5.4%
- Asian, 5.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
Private security officer race
| Private security officer race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 55.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.4% |
| Black or African American | 11.2% |
| Unknown | 5.4% |
| Asian | 5.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.6% |
Private security officer race and ethnicity over time
See how private security officer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Private security officer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.55% | 11.53% | 4.24% | 16.26% |
| 2011 | 62.49% | 11.47% | 4.21% | 17.84% |
| 2012 | 62.16% | 11.75% | 4.13% | 17.95% |
| 2013 | 62.49% | 11.31% | 4.40% | 18.04% |
| 2014 | 61.17% | 12.15% | 4.10% | 18.37% |
| 2015 | 60.81% | 11.58% | 4.58% | 18.82% |
| 2016 | 60.44% | 11.34% | 4.37% | 19.70% |
| 2017 | 60.33% | 12.27% | 4.04% | 19.50% |
| 2018 | 60.58% | 11.15% | 4.24% | 19.51% |
| 2019 | 59.57% | 11.86% | 5.06% | 19.38% |
| 2020 | 54.91% | 12.42% | 5.11% | 20.76% |
| 2021 | 55.02% | 11.20% | 5.44% | 21.40% |
Private security officer wage gap by race
According to our data, white private security officers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown private security officers have the lowest average salary at $31,483.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $31,483 |
| White | $32,163 |
| Black or African American | $32,008 |
| Asian | $32,139 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $31,839 |
Average private security officer age
See how the average age of private security officers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Private security officer age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | 41 |
| Unknown | 37.5 | 39 |
| Asian | 45 | 44 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 36 | 36.5 |
| White | 45 | 47 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 38.5 | 37 |
Private security officer age breakdown
The average age of private security officers is 40+ years years old, representing 56% of the private security officer population.
Private security officer age breakdown
| Private Security Officer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 56% |
| 30-40 years | 21% |
| 20-30 years | 22% |
Private security officer educational attainment
The most common degree for private security officers is high school diploma, with 31% of private security officers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 29% and bachelor's degree degree at 26%.
- High School Diploma, 31%
- Bachelor's, 29%
- Associate, 26%
- Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Private security officers by degree level
| Private security officer degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 31% |
| Bachelor's | 29% |
| Associate | 26% |
| Diploma | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Private security officer jobs you might like
Private security officer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, private security officers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $36,073 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, private security officers earn a median annual income of $33,343 compared to $31,400 for private security officers with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $36,073 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $30,286 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $33,343 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $31,400 |
Private security officer employment statistics
Most private security officers work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where private security officers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where private security officers work.
Private security officer jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 16% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 15% |
Private security officer jobs by company type
Employees with the private security officer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most private security officers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Private security officer jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 12% |
| Private | 81% |
| Government | 6% |
Private security officer jobs by industry
The most common industries for private security officers are professional, utilities and technology.
Private security officer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Professional | 20% |
| Utilities | 19% |
| Government | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Media | 4% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Private security officer turnover and employment statistics
Private security officer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for private security officers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Private security officer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Private security officer unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 12.24% |
| 2011 | 11.62% |
| 2012 | 10.40% |
| 2013 | 9.08% |
| 2014 | 8.18% |
| 2015 | 7.21% |
| 2016 | 6.47% |
| 2017 | 5.77% |
| 2018 | 5.47% |
| 2019 | 4.75% |
| 2020 | 6.85% |
| 2021 | 7.46% |
Average private security officer tenure
The average private security officer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,664 private security officers resumes in Zippia's database.
Private security officer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 29% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 11% |
| 5-7 years | 19% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Private security officer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of private security officers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Flagger | 3.84% | 29,023 |
| Private Security Officer | 6.29% | - |
| Loss Prevention Analyst | 7.17% | 62,658 |
| Ocean Rescue Lieutenant | 7.20% | 426 |
| Asset Protection Detective | 8.27% | 82,030 |
| Airport Security Screener | 15.51% | 46,117 |
Similar private security officer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Flagger | 3.84% | 29,023 |
| Loss Prevention Analyst | 7.17% | 62,658 |
| Ocean Rescue Lieutenant | 7.20% | 426 |
| Asset Protection Detective | 8.27% | 82,030 |
| Airport Security Screener | 15.51% | 46,117 |
Foreign languages spoken by private security officers
The most common foreign language among private security officers is Spanish at 66.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Russian at 7.5% and French is the third-most popular at 5.7%.
- Spanish, 66.0%
- Russian, 7.5%
- French, 5.7%
- German, 3.8%
- Marshallese, 1.9%
- Other, 15.1%
Private security officer languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 66.0% |
| Russian | 7.5% |
| French | 5.7% |
| German | 3.8% |
| Marshallese | 1.9% |
| Other | 15.1% |
