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The role of a Protection Security Officer is critical in maintaining safety in various environments. According to recent data, the average salary for this position in the United States stands at $35,926 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at a lower range, while experienced officers can earn more, depending on their skills and responsibilities.
Salary varies significantly across states. For instance, protection security officers in urban areas may command higher salaries due to the demand for security services. States like California and New York generally offer higher compensation, reflecting the cost of living and the scale of security operations. Additionally, cities like Los Angeles and New York City are among the highest-paying locations for this role.
Experience also plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level officers can expect to earn less than those with several years in the field. As officers gain experience and potentially take on supervisory roles, their earning potential can increase significantly.
For those considering a career in security, understanding the different factors that influence salary can guide your career decisions and help you negotiate better compensation.
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The average protection security officer salary in Washington, North Dakota, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average protection security officer salary states are Tennessee, Louisiana, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $46,127 | $22.18 |
| 2 | Washington | $46,231 | $22.23 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| 4 | New York | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $39,082 | $18.79 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $41,555 | $19.98 |
| 7 | Oregon | $40,832 | $19.63 |
| 8 | Nevada | $37,636 | $18.09 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $40,176 | $19.32 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $41,227 | $19.82 |
| 11 | Maine | $38,417 | $18.47 |
| 12 | Arizona | $36,801 | $17.69 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $37,991 | $18.26 |
| 14 | California | $40,822 | $19.63 |
| 15 | Colorado | $37,747 | $18.15 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $37,192 | $17.88 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $37,568 | $18.06 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $36,549 | $17.57 |
| 19 | Vermont | $36,613 | $17.60 |
| 20 | Maryland | $36,823 | $17.70 |
| 21 | Missouri | $36,889 | $17.74 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $36,185 | $17.40 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $42,825 | $20.59 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $36,827 | $17.71 |
| 27 | Idaho | $33,307 | $16.01 |
| 28 | Virginia | $35,511 | $17.07 |
| 29 | Kansas | $35,626 | $17.13 |
| 30 | Ohio | $34,998 | $16.83 |
| 31 | Texas | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| 32 | Delaware | $35,019 | $16.84 |
| 33 | Illinois | $34,875 | $16.77 |
| 34 | Utah | $35,747 | $17.19 |
| 35 | Iowa | $34,714 | $16.69 |
| 36 | Michigan | $34,667 | $16.67 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $33,747 | $16.22 |
| 38 | Indiana | $34,496 | $16.58 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $32,484 | $15.62 |
| 40 | Montana | $32,658 | $15.70 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $30,559 | $14.69 |
| 42 | Florida | $28,422 | $13.66 |
| 43 | Georgia | $31,059 | $14.93 |
| 44 | Alabama | $28,288 | $13.60 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $26,120 | $12.56 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $31,345 | $15.07 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $31,437 | $15.11 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $30,226 | $14.53 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $29,437 | $14.15 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $30,227 | $14.53 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $28,305 | $13.61 |
The highest-paying cities for protection security officers are Seattle, WA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $46,398 | $22.31 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $43,073 | $20.71 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $42,853 | $20.60 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $42,567 | $20.46 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,514 | $19.96 |
| 6 | Springfield, OR | $41,030 | $19.73 |
| 7 | Springfield, MA | $40,529 | $19.49 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $37,953 | $18.25 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| 11 | Springfield, VA | $37,206 | $17.89 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $37,138 | $17.85 |
| 13 | Hartford, CT | $37,079 | $17.83 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $37,029 | $17.80 |
| 15 | Hackensack, NJ | $36,867 | $17.72 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,863 | $17.72 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $35,774 | $17.20 |
| 19 | Newark, DE | $35,078 | $16.86 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $34,980 | $16.82 |
A protection security officer's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $35,926 | $2,994 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
The highest paying types of protection security officers are protection specialist, officer, and security specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officer | $52,506 | $4,376 | $25.24 | 114,267 |
| Enforcement Officer | $38,446 | $3,204 | $18.48 | 82,142 |
| Security | $31,836 | $2,653 | $15.31 | 150,586 |
| Security/Customer Service | $32,115 | $2,676 | $15.44 | 224,564 |
| Security Supervisor | $41,818 | $3,485 | $20.10 | 87,236 |
| Security Guard | $31,983 | $2,665 | $15.38 | 101,728 |
Top companies hiring protection security officers now:
Protection security officer salaries at National Renewable Energy Laboratory and USAA are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average protection security officer salary at companies like Sutter Health and Foster Farms are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Renewable Energy Laboratory | $46,038 | $22.13 |
| 2 | USAA | $45,320 | $21.79 |
| 3 | Sutter Health | $39,946 | $19.20 |
| 4 | Foster Farms | $38,358 | $18.44 |
| 5 | Chenega | $36,036 | $17.32 |
| 6 | Securitas Electronic Security | $35,446 | $17.04 |
| 7 | Sunstates Security | $35,336 | $16.99 |
| 8 | Allied Universal | $35,312 | $16.98 |
| 9 | G4s Secure Solutions International Inc. | $35,294 | $16.97 |
| 10 | Constellis | $35,252 | $16.95 |
| 11 | Walden Security | $35,205 | $16.93 |
| 12 | E B Nevada Inc | $34,832 | $16.75 |
| 13 | SOC | $34,831 | $16.75 |
| 14 | SecTek | $34,683 | $16.67 |
| 15 | GardaWorld Federal Services | $34,588 | $16.63 |
| 16 | Signal 88 Franchise Group Inc | $34,570 | $16.62 |
| 17 | G4S | $33,891 | $16.29 |
| 18 | Securitas AB | $33,604 | $16.16 |
| 19 | Metro One LPSG | $33,410 | $16.06 |
| 20 | Rochester Regional Health | $32,936 | $15.83 |
The average protection security officer salary has risen by $8,273 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average protection security officer earned $27,653 annually, but today, they earn $35,926 a year. That works out to a 20% change in pay for protection security officers over the last decade.
Compare protection security officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare protection security officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,900 | $17.27 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $34,300 | $16.51 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $33,000 | $15.85 | +5.6% |
| 2022 | $31,100 | $14.96 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | $29,800 | $14.33 | +4.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | Protective Security Officer-Intermediate Level | Charlotte, NC | 06/30/2025 | $43,680 |
| Pico de Gallo | Security & Protective Instructor | Tulsa, OK | 06/29/2025 | $49,000 |
| National Roofing Contractors Association | [Email Protected] | Galena, OH | 06/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| Allied Universal | Armed Custom Protection Security Officer | Charlotte, NC | 06/28/2025 | $50,088 |
| Allied Universal Security | Cleared Security Professional-Flex | Half Moon Bay, CA | 06/27/2025 | $65,219 |
| Allied Universal | Security Protector | Port Saint Lucie, FL | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| Allied Universal Security | Security Officer Bank Protection | Philadelphia, PA | 06/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Gardaworld | Security Asset Protection Officer | Jefferson City, MO | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Armed Federal Protective Services Security Professional-Armed-SW | Washington, DC | 06/27/2025 | $68,871 |
| Msccn | Protective Security Officer-West Branch MI | West Branch, MI | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
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