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What is a security/loss prevention officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a security/loss prevention officer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $16.03 an hour? That's $33,335 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 38,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreSecurity/Loss Prevention OfficerUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $33,335

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.6

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.58%

Asian 5.59%

Black or African American 12.08%

Hispanic or Latino 22.02%

Unknown 5.30%

White 53.43%

Gender

female 16.23%

male 83.77%

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

Security/loss prevention officer career paths

Key steps to become a security/loss prevention officer

  1. Explore security/loss prevention officer education requirements

    Most common security/loss prevention officer degrees

    High School Diploma

    35.1 %

    Bachelor's

    27.1 %

    Associate

    23.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific security/loss prevention officer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patrol30.46%
    Good Judgment14.95%
    Loss Prevention14.35%
    Emergency Situations13.43%
    CPR6.23%
  3. Complete relevant security/loss prevention officer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New security/loss prevention 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 security/loss prevention officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real security/loss prevention officer resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed security/loss prevention officer usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you don't need to pass an exam to become a licensed security/loss prevention officer in most of states. 30 states require security/loss prevention 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 security/loss prevention officer duties and responsibilities

    • View CCTV, screen visitors, and monitor activity in the control center.
    • Complete mandatory training in adult and child CPR, fist aid, and environmental emergencies.
    • Apprehend shoplifters, CCTV monitor camera security system, and investigate thefts and in-store theft of employees.
    • Maintain a standard of punctuality and dependability of attendance and retain myself cleanliness, tidiness, neatness and appropriately attire.
  6. Prepare your security/loss prevention officer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your security/loss prevention 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 security/loss prevention 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 security/loss prevention officer resume templates

    Build a professional security/loss prevention 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 security/loss prevention officer resume.
    Security/Loss Prevention Officer Resume
    Security/Loss Prevention Officer Resume
    Security/Loss Prevention Officer Resume
    Security/Loss Prevention Officer Resume
    Security/Loss Prevention Officer Resume
    Security/Loss Prevention Officer Resume
    Security/Loss Prevention Officer Resume
    Security/Loss Prevention Officer Resume
    Security/Loss Prevention Officer Resume
  7. Apply for security/loss prevention officer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a security/loss prevention 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 security/loss prevention officer job

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Average security/loss prevention officer salary

The average security/loss prevention officer salary in the United States is $33,335 per year or $16 per hour. Security/loss prevention officer salaries range between $26,000 and $41,000 per year.

Average security/loss prevention officer salary
$33,335 Yearly
$16.03 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do security/loss prevention officers rate their job?

-/5

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Security/loss prevention 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


profile
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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