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The differences between security guards and protection security officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a protection security officer has an average salary of $35,926, which is higher than the $31,983 average annual salary of a security guard.
The top three skills for a security guard include customer service, patrol and ladders. The most important skills for a protection security officer are patrol, safety hazards, and law enforcement.
| Security Guard | Protection Security Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $31,983 | $35,926 |
| Hourly rate | $15.38 | $17.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 101,728 | 122,427 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A protection security officer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security within the premises to protect the employees and company assets. Protection security officers inspect the facilities and patrol around the building to identify unusual activities and monitor suspicious people. They also check surveillance equipment and escalate incident reports to the security team for immediate actions to prevent potential hazards and operational delays. A protection security officer must have excellent communication and observational skills, especially in assisting and verifying the identity of guests and checking their luggage upon arrival.
Security guards and protection security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Guard | Protection Security Officer | |
| Average salary | $31,983 | $35,926 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $26,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lakewood, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | Basin Electric Power Cooperative | National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a security guard and a protection security officer in terms of educational background:
| Security Guard | Protection Security Officer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between security guards' and protection security officers' demographics:
| Security Guard | Protection Security Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |