Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between safety officers and security guards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a safety officer has an average salary of $46,336, which is higher than the $31,983 average annual salary of a security guard.
The top three skills for a safety officer include OSHA, patients and patrol. The most important skills for a security guard are customer service, patrol, and ladders.
| Safety Officer | Security Guard | |
| Yearly salary | $46,336 | $31,983 |
| Hourly rate | $22.28 | $15.38 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 68,487 | 101,728 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A safety officer specializes in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for employees in a building or establishment. Aside from adhering to the safety standards and regulations within a company, a safety officer also has to craft and improve policies that prioritize the physical and mental health of workers. Furthermore, it is essential to implement safety programs by educating workers on various precautionary measures, performing regular inspections of equipment and machines, and ensuring the proper disposal of any hazardous waste materials.
Security guards are responsible for maintaining and ensuring the peace and safety of the building they are assigned to. They ensure that everyone who enters the building has official business to be done in the building. They are also in charge of patrolling and monitoring activities within the area. Security guards are also tasked to immobilize anyone who seems to pose a threat to the peace and safety of the building. They are also responsible for preventing any untoward incidences or crimes that may happen in the area. Security guards must be observant and alert to be able to succeed in their roles.
Safety officers and security guards have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Officer | Security Guard | |
| Average salary | $46,336 | $31,983 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $73,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Lakewood, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Amgen | Basin Electric Power Cooperative |
| Best paying industry | Government | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a safety officer and a security guard in terms of educational background:
| Safety Officer | Security Guard | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | - |
Here are the differences between safety officers' and security guards' demographics:
| Safety Officer | Security Guard | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.6% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |