How to hire a protection security officer

How to hire a protection security officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step protection security officer hiring guide:

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

What does a protection security officer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The protection security officer 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?

   Yes

   No

   A protection security officer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, protection security officers 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.

   This list presents protection security officer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Protection Security Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   Protection Security Officer	Security guards and gaming surveillance officers patrol and protect property against theft, vandalism, terrorism, and illegal activity.	$12-23
   Officer	An officer is responsible for managing the daily operations of the assigned area, ensuring its peace and security by monitoring and reporting unusual and suspicious activities. Officers are the ones enforcing strict safety protocols and procedures to maintain the order within the premises... Show more	$12-49
   Enforcement Officer	The enforcement officer is someone who promotes and enforces policies, instructions, and obligations of tenants. An enforcement officer aims to resolve two parties' issues that may arise from orders given by the admin or management... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patrol
   • Safety Hazards
   • Law Enforcement
   • Criminal Justice
   • Customer Service
   • CPR
   • CCTV
   • Security Patrols
   • Traffic Control
   • Patients
   • Emergency Situations
   • Alarm Systems
   • Security Services
   • Incident Reports

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain certification of CPR, self-defense, first aid, and firearms.
   • Maintain annual certification of training classes including, CPR, self-defense, first aid, and firearms.
   • Assist with aggressive and hostile patients as well as security watch for patients under arrests and those that are mentally unstable.
   • Detain and restrain combative patients.
   • Monitor government buildings, utilizing CCTV monitoring systems.
   • Monitor CCTV security cameras for sign of suspicious or illicit activities.

   More protection security officer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the protection security officer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A protection security officer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a protection security officer in Tennessee may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level protection security officer. Additionally, a protection security officer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average protection security officer salary

   $35,926yearly

   $17.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level protection security officer salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average protection security officer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$46,398	$22
   2	New York	$43,073	$21
   3	District of Columbia	$42,853	$21
   4	California	$42,567	$20
   5	Minnesota	$41,514	$20
   6	Oregon	$41,030	$20
   7	Massachusetts	$40,529	$19
   8	Maine	$38,520	$19
   9	Wisconsin	$37,953	$18
   10	Nevada	$37,360	$18
   11	Virginia	$37,206	$18
   12	Missouri	$37,138	$18
   13	Connecticut	$37,079	$18
   14	Maryland	$37,029	$18
   15	New Jersey	$36,867	$18
   16	Arizona	$36,863	$18
   17	Pennsylvania	$36,720	$18
   18	Nebraska	$35,774	$17
   19	Delaware	$35,078	$17
   20	Illinois	$34,980	$17

   Average protection security officer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	National Renewable Energy Laboratory	$46,038	$22.13	2
   2	USAA	$45,320	$21.79	16
   3	Sutter Health	$39,946	$19.20	24
   4	Foster Farms	$38,358	$18.44
   5	Chenega	$36,036	$17.32	49
   6	Securitas Electronic Security	$35,446	$17.04	1,060
   7	Sunstates Security	$35,336	$16.99	146
   8	Allied Universal	$35,312	$16.98
   9	G4s Secure Solutions International Inc.	$35,294	$16.97
   10	Constellis	$35,252	$16.95	74
   11	Walden Security	$35,205	$16.93	172
   12	E B Nevada Inc	$34,832	$16.75
   13	SOC	$34,831	$16.75	6
   14	SecTek	$34,683	$16.67	11
   15	GardaWorld Federal Services	$34,588	$16.63	759
   16	Signal 88 Franchise Group Inc	$34,570	$16.62	1
   17	G4S	$33,891	$16.29	16
   18	Securitas AB	$33,604	$16.16	1,525
   19	Metro One LPSG	$33,410	$16.06
   20	Rochester Regional Health	$32,936	$15.83	1

4. Writing a protection security officer job description

   A job description for a protection security officer 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 protection security officer job description:

   Protection security officer job description example

   Plans, coordinates, and conducts executive protection details in support of company executives and senior management. Provides for the safety and personal security of family-level executives. Develops and manages executive protection strategies. Prepares advance security surveys of locations and pre-event site assessments to include emergency evacuation plans and other procedures as required. Coordinates and liaisons with other department groups, contract security services and public safety personnel. Oversees investigative efforts related to executive protection. Responsible for route reconnaissance and planning, vehicle preparation and travel security. Maintain equipment inventory and ensure operation of equipment by completing regular inspections and preventative maintenance. Responsible for completing various reports as required. Assists department personnel as needed to conduct confidential internal and external investigations and large-scale event planning and operations. Conducts research using internal and external sources to assist in the production of complex security assessments local and international security surveys and the creation of travel assessments for company C-level executives. Maintains flexible schedule and on-call hours as needed. Perform other job related duties as requested.
   Experience: 5+ years of combined industrial/corporate security and executive protection experience including experience in international travel and venues
   
   Education: High School education or equivalent plus a 4 year college degree is preferred
   Requires competent knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles of executive protection Must possess or be able to obtain the following certifications/licenses - Commissioned Security Officer and Personal Protection Officer through the department of Public Safety's (DPS) Private Security Board (PSB) within 30 days of start date, Emergency Care Attendant certification through the Texas Department of State Health Services, Valid drivers license to operate Company-owned vehicles and maintain a good driving record, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification through the American Heart Association and advanced driver training as an executive protection professional Must have a valid passport. Must be familiar with DFW area and works well under pressure. Advanced knowledge in the area of investigations. Must be accurate and skillful in dealing with information. Must have strong and timely decision making ability Ability to write reports, business correspondence, standing operating procedures and work instructions. Maintain proficiency in firearms and defensive tactics. Must present a professional appearance and demeanor. Ability to work various shifts including weekends and holidays. Must be able to read, understand, and apply basic applications of technical instructions and materials. Must have strong communication and speaking skills coupled with strong communication and interpersonal skills required in order to effectively communicate with internal as well as external customers, visitors, guests and the public. Must have the ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality/non-disclosure. Must be proficient in the operation of various alarm systems, portable radio equipment and security systems in order to analyze equipment needs. Must be able to maintain proficiency in Company-issued equipment including firearms and nonlethal tools. Must have auditory capability to hear alarms, monitors, intruders, safety infractions, etc., visual acuity to recognize hazardous materials signs and to describe witnessed persons or situations, and must have olfactory capability to smell dangerous gases, fire, etc. Must be able to lift up to 75 lbs. Incumbent must be able to travel 25% of the time
   
   Company Overview
   
   Looking for a career where you can make a difference? At Mary Kay we are committed to enriching the lives of women and their families around the world, we offer careers with unlimited opportunities to do something beautiful every day. More than 5,000 employees work in locations around the world. They provide the products, marketing and other support to millions of Independent Beauty Consultants (IBCs) who work as independent contractors, selling our products directly to consumers in nearly 40 markets on five continents.
   
   We are a company that believes in our people and cares for them with truly exceptional benefits. We offer:
   A comprehensive health plan which includes medical, dental, and vision with low premiums 401(k) plan A generous profit-sharing program Free access to on-site fitness center and on-site clinic

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find protection security officers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your protection security officer job on Zippia to find and recruit protection security officer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit protection security officers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 protection security officer

   Once you've decided on a perfect protection security officer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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 protection security officer. 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 protection security officer?