How to hire a safety and security officer

How to hire a safety and security officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step safety and 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 safety and security officer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new safety and security officer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a safety and security officer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The safety and 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a safety and security officer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a safety and security officer that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of safety and security officer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Safety And Security Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   Safety And Security Officer	Security guards and gaming surveillance officers patrol and protect property against theft, vandalism, terrorism, and illegal activity.	$11-25
   Non-Commissioned Officer	A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is responsible for maintaining peace and order during military operations and training. Non-commissioned officers' duties include leading soldiers' training for military operations, responding to the soldiers' concerns that involve their physical and mental well-being, and utilizing military equipment and tools properly while following strict regulatory procedures... Show more	$37-68
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patrol
   • Patients
   • Customer Service
   • CPR
   • Emergency Situations
   • Incident Reports
   • Loss Prevention
   • Public Safety
   • Criminal Justice
   • EMS
   • Safety Hazards
   • CCTV
   • Security Services
   • Traffic Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Execute HAZMAT safety and clean up procedures, confine space entry, CPR certify, and emergency/fire protection qualify.
   • Respond to park disturbances and medical calls involving first aid (train in basic first aid and CPR).
   • Monitor and operate CCTV cameras and other recording systems.
   • Patrol and monitor facility daily in accordance with safety policy.
   • Search behavioral health patients for contraband and potentially dangerous weapons.
   • Monitor CCTV systems, provide security; conduct interior/exterior security checks.

   More safety and security officer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, safety and security officers' average salary in mississippi is 50% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level safety and security officers earn 54% less than senior-level safety and security officers.
   • Certifications. A safety and security officer 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 safety and security officer's salary.

   Average safety and security officer salary

   $35,427yearly

   $17.03 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level safety and security officer salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 31, 2025

   Average safety and security officer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$47,628	$23
   2	Washington	$47,152	$23
   3	Virginia	$42,129	$20
   4	Oregon	$41,585	$20
   5	Nevada	$39,913	$19
   6	California	$39,836	$19
   7	Pennsylvania	$36,053	$17
   8	Illinois	$36,048	$17
   9	Colorado	$35,927	$17
   10	Maine	$35,650	$17
   11	Arizona	$35,021	$17
   12	Missouri	$34,276	$16
   13	Ohio	$32,418	$16
   14	Iowa	$32,296	$16
   15	Utah	$32,046	$15
   16	Texas	$31,362	$15
   17	North Carolina	$30,684	$15
   18	South Carolina	$29,749	$14
   19	Florida	$28,538	$14
   20	Georgia	$26,080	$13

   Average safety and security officer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Columbus College of Art & Design	$61,842	$29.73
   2	Union University	$51,727	$24.87	1
   3	Medical University of South Carolina	$49,291	$23.70	8
   4	Baptist Health	$46,245	$22.23	10
   5	Salve Regina University	$45,424	$21.84
   6	Baptist Health Home Care	$45,003	$21.64	13
   7	Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare	$44,435	$21.36	2
   8	New York State Restaurant Association	$42,916	$20.63
   9	Dayton Art Institute	$42,111	$20.25
   10	Virginia Hospital Center	$41,802	$20.10	6
   11	National Life Group	$41,659	$20.03	4
   12	Legacy Health	$41,537	$19.97	11
   13	Hyatt Hotels	$41,187	$19.80	43
   14	Catholic Health East	$40,441	$19.44
   15	Henry Schein	$39,583	$19.03	2
   16	McKesson	$38,897	$18.70	2
   17	Park Nicollet Medical Center Inc	$38,861	$18.68
   18	Self Regional Healthcare	$38,284	$18.41	1
   19	Marriott International	$37,658	$18.10	207
   20	Community Action Agency of Delaware County Inc	$37,447	$18.00	1

4. Writing a safety and security officer job description

   A job description for a safety and 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 safety and security officer job description:

   Safety and security officer job description example

   For over 50 years, Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) has provided affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to all San Diegans. With more than 2,500 employees spread throughout more than 50 sites around the county, FHCSD is proud of the diversity of its staff as a reflection of the communities it serves.
   
   The reward of working at FHCSD is more than a paycheck and excellent benefits; it is the impact and contribution to the San Diego community that employees value most. If you are passionate about improving the overall health and livelihood of your community, FHCSD is looking for people like you.
   
   Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) is looking for a Security and Safety Officer to be responsible for the security and safety of the health center, patients, employees, and visitors.
   Responsibilities:
   Assists with issuing and duplicating keys. Also responsible for maintaining copies of all keys; keys are to be stored in the Facilities Department in a locked cabinet. Responsible for forwarding processed key request forms to the facilities assistant and the Human Resources department.Conducts internal and external rounds of all health centers to identify security and safety hazards and immediately reports hazards to the Supervisor. Responsible for conducting a complete inspection of assigned sites at end of the day and securing the buildings - ensuring all exterior doors and departmental doors are secure and locked at the end of the working day.Maintains order in parking lots and ensures vehicles are parked in an organized manner and inappropriate parking spaces (i.e.: general, handicapped, double spaces, and providers). Responsible for traffic control and VIP parking on events days. Monitors No Parking, Loading Zone, and Emergency Parking zones on the premises and perimeter and keeps them free of inappropriate vehicles.Performs other duties as assigned.Performs testing of safety equipment, including a monthly check of fire extinguishers to ensure all are charged, and for maintaining the annual recharging schedule. Monthly testing of emergency devices, including battery-operated smoke detectors, duress buttons, backup lighting, elevator call phones, and wireless call buttons. Annual testing of emergency devices as required.Responds immediately to emergency calls and clears the way for emergency vehicles and personnel, directs them to the emergency scene, and provides information of the incident to them. Records any contact with emergency services (fire, paramedics, police) and provides information to supervisor. Responsible for assisting in filing police reports on incidents and thefts, and for calling the city regarding hazardous conditions on the adjacent streets and alleys, as directed. Assists staff with abusive patients.Responds to after-hours emergency calls.Responsible for directing staff and patients to safety and maintaining order in an emergency (fire, earthquake, bomb threat, etc.) and ensuring that the proper emergency agencies have been contacted and the proper procedures have been followed. Assists with drills.
   
   Requirements:
   At least 1 year of experience as a security guard or similar experience in a related field (i.e., Military MP duty) is required.High school diploma or GED equivalent required.Or equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the skills, knowledge, and ability to perform the essential job duties, and which meets any required state or federal certification requirements.Must meet driving requirements.Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred.
   
   Rewards:
   Job type: RegularFull TimeCompetitive Salary with Excellent BenefitsRetirement Plan with Employer MatchPaid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave, and Paid HolidaysMedical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life InsuranceEmployee Discounts and Wellness Programs
   
   FHCSD was founded by community activists working towards a common goal: caring, affordable, high-quality medical care for all. We are proud to continue this mission today as we provide accessible services to over 210,000 patients across San Diego County. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to community medicine and providing culturally competent care to the medically underserved.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right safety and security officer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting safety and security officers 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.

   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 safety and security officer

   Once you've decided on a perfect safety and 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 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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