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The differences between security officers and unarmed security guards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an unarmed security guard has an average salary of $32,946, which is higher than the $31,101 average annual salary of a security officer.
The top three skills for a security officer include customer service, ladders and patrol. The most important skills for an unarmed security guard are unarmed security, patrol, and law enforcement.
Security Officer | Unarmed Security Guard | |
Yearly Salary | $31,101 | $32,946 |
Hourly rate | $14.95 | $15.84 |
Growth Rate | 3% | 3% |
Number Of Jobs | 125,879 | 99,613 |
Job Satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
Most Common Degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 44% |
Average Age | 43 | 43 |
Years Of Experience | - | - |
A security officer is responsible for maintaining the peace and safety of everyone by regularly patrolling and monitoring surveillance equipment within the assigned premises. Security officers' duties also include reporting suspicious behaviors, restricting trespassers and unauthorized personnel from entering the establishment, providing incident reports for policy violations, and adhering to the standard protocols and legal requirements set by the management. Security offers must also have excellent decision-making and critical-thinking skills and extensive knowledge of emergency drills in case any unfortunate circumstances arise.
The primary responsibility of an unarmed security guard is to monitor and protect properties against damage or criminal attack. They must be alert, patrol the premises, and respond to emergencies. They also monitor alarm systems and video surveillance cameras. In cases of security breaches, they are expected to bring in law enforcement agents.
Security officers and unarmed security guards have different pay scales, as shown below.
Security Officer | Unarmed Security Guard | |
Average Salary | $31,101 | $32,946 |
Salary Range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $23,000 And $45,000 |
Highest Paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
Highest Paying State | Washington | Alaska |
Best Paying Company | Battelle | Inter-Con Security Systems |
Best Paying Industry | Utilities | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a security officer and an unarmed security guard in terms of educational background:
Security Officer | Unarmed Security Guard | |
Most Common Degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 44% |
Most Common Major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
Most Common College | - | - |
Here are the differences between security officers' and unarmed security guards' demographics:
Security Officer | Unarmed Security Guard | |
Average Age | 43 | 43 |
Gender Ratio | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
Race Ratio | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 15.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 5.7% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |