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The differences between security officers and unarmed security officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an unarmed security officer has an average salary of $31,496, 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 officer are patrol, customer service, and unarmed security.
| Security Officer | Unarmed Security Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $31,101 | $31,496 |
| Hourly rate | $14.95 | $15.14 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 125,879 | 121,723 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| 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.
An unarmed security officer is primarily responsible for securing an establishment and maintaining the safety of people within the premises. They are typically in charge of conducting patrols, monitoring surveillance cameras and alarm systems, responding to distress reports, keeping an eye on suspicious activities and behaviors, and coordinating with the law enforcement should there be any emergencies. An unarmed security officer may also assist clients and respond to inquiries, all while maintaining a safe and worry-free environment for everyone.
Security officers and unarmed security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Officer | Unarmed Security Officer | |
| Average salary | $31,101 | $31,496 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $24,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Eagan, MN |
| 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 officer in terms of educational background:
| Security Officer | Unarmed Security Officer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between security officers' and unarmed security officers' demographics:
| Security Officer | Unarmed Security Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% | Male, 65.0% Female, 35.0% |
| 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, 16.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.8% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |