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What is a receptionist/security officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a receptionist/security officer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.24 an hour? That's $31,692 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 38,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreReceptionist/Security OfficerUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $31,692

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.6

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.59%

Asian 5.67%

Black or African American 13.87%

Hispanic or Latino 20.67%

Unknown 5.32%

White 52.89%

Gender

female 72.65%

male 27.35%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
9.4

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Receptionist/security officer career paths

Key steps to become a receptionist/security officer

  1. Explore receptionist/security officer education requirements

    Most common receptionist/security officer degrees

    High School Diploma

    32.1 %

    Bachelor's

    23.7 %

    Associate

    23.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific receptionist/security officer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service22.52%
    Visitor Badges16.68%
    Front Desk9.94%
    Patrol7.78%
    Client Facility7.18%
  3. Complete relevant receptionist/security officer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New receptionist/security officers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a receptionist/security officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real receptionist/security officer resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed receptionist/security officer usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you don't need to pass an exam to become a licensed receptionist/security officer in most of states. 30 states require receptionist/security officers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense url
    Alabama--Licensed Personal Security Officer
    Maryland--GUARDS
    AlaskaSpecific course required-Security Guard
    ArkansasSpecific course requiredState exam requiredPrivate Security Officer (PSO)
    CaliforniaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredSecurity Guard Registration
  5. Research receptionist/security officer duties and responsibilities

    • Certify in first aid, CPR, and a.
    • Maintain a high level of alertness to ensure the well-being of their corporate clients HSBC.
    • Monitor all event activity, CCTV and maintain control over customers, residents and staff traffic throughout the property.
    • Monitor computer alarm systems, closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems and communicate by radio with mobile units to attend alarms
  6. Prepare your receptionist/security officer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your receptionist/security officer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a receptionist/security officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable receptionist/security officer resume templates

    Build a professional receptionist/security officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your receptionist/security officer resume.
    Receptionist/Security Officer Resume
    Receptionist/Security Officer Resume
    Receptionist/Security Officer Resume
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    Receptionist/Security Officer Resume
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    Receptionist/Security Officer Resume
    Receptionist/Security Officer Resume
  7. Apply for receptionist/security officer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a receptionist/security officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first receptionist/security officer job

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Average receptionist/security officer salary

The average receptionist/security officer salary in the United States is $31,692 per year or $15 per hour. Receptionist/security officer salaries range between $25,000 and $39,000 per year.

Average receptionist/security officer salary
$31,692 Yearly
$15.24 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do receptionist/security officers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

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1 star

Receptionist/security officer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

Meeting a lot of different people have helped people in this job

Cons

The pay is not worth what you have to do sometimes


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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2021
Pros

Protecting people and the property where I’m sign at.

Cons

There’s nothing about the officer that I don’t like


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Yes because is a job that deal with helping people that your help and there's a wonderful happiness while working properly and helping people at the sometime.

Cons

One sometimes people will not like you but they need a help from you but to me a don't call it anything now because I know the status of the job even in a building I have work in that area as a security guard department with my license from United Arab Emirates.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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