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The differences between security agents and lead security officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead security officer has an average salary of $43,560, which is higher than the $35,179 average annual salary of a security agent.
The top three skills for a security agent include customer service, patrol and emergency situations. The most important skills for a lead security officer are patrol, security procedures, and emergency situations.
| Security Agent | Lead Security Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $35,179 | $43,560 |
| Hourly rate | $16.91 | $20.94 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 125,019 | 114,945 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Security Agents guard the entrance and exit of a building, watching CCTV footage for unusual activities, and holding trespassers until authorities arrive. Being a security agent is usually a shift-based job and can sometimes last overnight. Security Agents must have first aid knowledge and basic skills with self-defense.
A lead security officer manages the members of a security team assigned to a certain shift. Lead security officers plan, organize, direct, and schedule work. They train personnel and recommend applicants for corrective action and training opportunities. It is their job to verify identification upon entry to a facility. They see to it that a secure environment for events is well-maintained. Also, they develop an execution plan and cloud strategy for the technology advisory board.
Security agents and lead security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Agent | Lead Security Officer | |
| Average salary | $35,179 | $43,560 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $52,000 | Between $24,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Arlington, VA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Inter-Con Security Systems | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a security agent and a lead security officer in terms of educational background:
| Security Agent | Lead Security Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between security agents' and lead security officers' demographics:
| Security Agent | Lead Security Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% | Male, 76.2% Female, 23.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 5.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 5.5% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |