How To Become A Security Officer: What It Is and Career Path

Q: Security Officer vs. Security Guard

A security officer is a watch person with a wider range of duties and the ability to exercise independent judgment, while a security guard is a watch person who is assigned a particular post or patrol area and has little independent judgment.

Q: What companies hire security officers?

A wide range of companies hire security officers, including banks, retail stores, hospitals, schools, corporations, and security firms. These companies operate in various sectors and require security officers to protect their assets, staff, and customers.

Q: Do security guards make good money?

No, security guards do not make good money. The median hourly wage is only $14.27 an hour ($29,680 a year). The hourly wage for a security guard ranges from $10.17 ($21,159 a year) and to $24.19 ($50,319 a year).

Q: How long does it take to become a security officer?

It takes as little as a week to become a security officer. The first step is obtaining your Class B license. The license requires a minimum of 40 hours of professional security training, followed by an exam.

Q: What is the difference between a security guard and a security officer?

The main difference between a security guard and a security officer is the scope of responsibility, training requirements, expectations, and compensation required for both roles. A security officer, for example, often functions in a management role. They are responsible for an overall security operation. To fulfill their duties, they will assign duties and tasks for security guards to carry out. Since more responsibility falls to Security Officer, they're regarded as security professionals.

Q: Why do you want to be a security officer?

You answer, "why do you want to be a security officer" by focusing on your favorite element of the job. If you desire to be a security officer so that you can help other people, then that is a great start. You may want to connect your answer to the specific job so hiring agents can make that connection as well. For example: I want to be a security officer because I want to make sure that others are able to feel safe and happy while doing their shopping. It is extremely rewarding to help other people feel safe. I also know that the feeling of security is a good one, and I want to make sure that I am able to keep an area safe through my tracking and responding to any threats should they arise.

What is a security officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

James Gibbens

A security officer works to maintain safety and security in settings such as public places, businesses, and private residences. They prevent and respond to potential threats and protect people and property. Security officers conduct surveillance, monitor alarms, and enforce rules. They also collaborate with law enforcement and provide assistance to individuals. The role of a security officer requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations.

What general advice would you give to a security officer?

James Gibbens

Adjunct Professor for Criminal Justice, Website

Good Morning Alex, I am the Director of the Brevard Police Testing Center here at EFSC. While I am not an instructor or professor here at EFSC I have been an adjunct professor at Florida Tech in Melbourne, FL since 2009 teaching Criminal Justice courses under the umbrella of the Psychology/Homeland Security Department. Prior to that I retired after 30 years from the Melbourne Police Department. If you want to send me some questions I can answer them.

ScoreSecurity OfficerUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $31,101

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.59%

Asian 6.29%

Black or African American 12.71%

Hispanic or Latino 19.58%

Unknown 5.31%

White 54.53%

Gender

female 28.45%

male 71.55%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a security officer?

Pros

Job stability and security
Opportunity for advancement and specialization
Decent pay and benefits
Access to training and certifications
Work with a team and build relationships with coworkers

Cons

Monotonous or repetitive tasks
Potential for physical harm or injury on the job
Exposure to traumatic events or disturbing situations
Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation
Risk of burnout or compassion fatigue

Key steps to become a security officer

Explore security officer education requirements

Most common security officer degrees

High School Diploma

36.2 %

Bachelor's

23.7 %

Associate

22.7 %

Start to develop specific security officer skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	24.71%
Ladders	17.12%
Patrol	14.10%
Security Services	6.22%
Patients	5.32%

Complete relevant security officer training and internships

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

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed security officer usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you don't need to pass an exam to become a licensed security officer in most of states. 30 states require security officers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alabama	-	-	Licensed Personal Security Officer
Maryland	-	-	GUARDS
Alaska	Specific course required	-	Security Guard
Arkansas	Specific course required	State exam required	Private Security Officer (PSO)
California	Specific course required	State exam required	Security Guard Registration

Research security officer duties and responsibilities

General foot patrol of interior and exterior strip corridor casino property areas.
Distribute id photo badges to employees and contractors.
Escort performers or highly known stars to their suites.
Employ as an unarm Virginia DCJS license security officer.

Prepare your security officer resume

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

Build a professional security 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 officer resume.

Apply for security officer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a security officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first security officer job

Daniel Ruu

Security Officer

"From Security Guard to Sales Leader: A Tale of Resilience and Compassion"

In the narrative of my life, resilience and kindness have been guiding stars, illuminating a path fraught with challenges and triumphs. Losing my mother at a tender age forced me to confront the harsh realities of life prematurely. Yet, I refused to succumb to despair, channeling my grief into determination to forge ahead.

Despite the allure of higher education, financial constraints steered me towards a career in security. As I patrolled corridors and monitored premises, working tirelessly from 6 am to 6 pm or from 6pm to 6am, on 12 hrs shift basis, I earned K42 a shit. In those long hours, I honed skills of vigilance and dedication, unaware that these virtues would one day pave the way to unforeseen opportunities.

The pivotal moment arrived when a tenant, moved by my unwavering commitment, extended a lifeline of support. This benevolent gesture ignited a spark of hope within me, propelling me towards further education in business management. With newfound knowledge and purpose, I ascended from the confines of security to the dynamic realm of sales and marketing.

Reflecting on my journey, I treasure the lessons gleaned from my humble beginnings. The monotony of routine tasks taught me the profound strength found in consistency, while interactions with a diverse array of individuals underscored the transformative power of kindness.

Today, I stand not only as a testament to resilience but also as a beacon of possibility. From the corridors of security to the boardrooms of corporate leadership, my odyssey embodies the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Through resilience and compassion, I have rewritten the narrative of my life, illuminating a path of inspiration for others to follow.

How do security officers rate their job?

4.5/5

Based on 4 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Security officer reviews

4.0

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

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

5.0

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.

What is a security officer and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a security officer?

What are the pros and cons of being a security officer?

Security officer career paths

Key steps to become a security officer

Explore security officer education requirements

Most common security officer degrees

Start to develop specific security officer skills

Complete relevant security officer training and internships

Obtain the necessary licensing

Research security officer duties and responsibilities

Prepare your security officer resume

Choose from 10+ customizable security officer resume templates

Apply for security officer jobs

How did you land your first security officer job

Average security officer salary

How do security officers rate their job?

Security officer reviews

Security officer FAQs

Security Officer vs. Security Guard

What companies hire security officers?

Do security guards make good money?

How long does it take to become a security officer?

What is the difference between a security guard and a security officer?

Why do you want to be a security officer?

Search for security officer jobs

Security officer jobs by state