What Does a Security Officer Do?

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.

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Security Officer Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real security officer resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

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.
Inspect all vehicles that are requesting access into AOA.
Make DAR reports with clear reading and writing in English.
Maintain licensure as an unarm, security officer per DCJS standards.
Complete daily activity reports (DAR) online and on a cell phone app.
Secure equipment; insure the safety of movie stars, production crew, and staff.
Do not admit access until client has provide regulatory id badge for access of the facility.
Protect and secure JFK's access points to the restricted aeronautical operations areas (AOA).
Inspect documents validity such as; port ids, driver's licenses, passports for access control.
Communicate by radio or phone; climb ladders to make sure trucks are secure in all types of weather.
Monitor foot traffic and conduct hourly patrol rounds to ensure appropriate security according to client site requirements.
Handle security for pet smart distribution

Security Officer Job Description

When it comes to understanding what a security officer does, you may be wondering, "should I become a security officer?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, security officers have a growth rate described as "as fast as average" at 4% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of security officer opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is 40,600.

A security officer annual salary averages $31,101, which breaks down to $14.95 an hour. However, security officers can earn anywhere from upwards of $24,000 to $39,000 a year. This means that the top-earning security officers make $15,000 more than the lowest-earning ones.

As is the case with most jobs, it takes work to become a security officer. Sometimes people change their minds about their career after working in the profession. That's why we looked into some other professions that might help you find your next opportunity. These professions include an unarmed security guard, security specialist, community services officer, and enforcement officer.

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12 Security Officer Resume Examples

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Patricia Jordan Security Officer Contact Information Richmond, VA (640) 555-3389 pjordan@example.com Skills Control Room NCO Police Department Platoon Combat CPR Unarmed Security Training Exercises Communication Teamwork Employment History Security Officer 2014 - Present G4S Richmond, VA Investigated any security concern utilizing effective communication with staff and management team. Coordinate with Law Enforcement and other agencies as necessary. Protect the bank facility, workers, and customers inside while they are open and conducting business. Maintain physical security for Data Center. Campus Security Officer 2012 - 2014 Whelan Security Co. Chicago, IL Maintained daily communication with property management and staff members. Provided radio communication to local offices for many different purposes on a daily basis. Provide security services to Walmart. Locked down premises in emergency situations. Maintained good rapport and communication with contracted employers. Corporal (Part-Time) 2012 - 2012 United States Marine Washington, DC Provided support to repair shops as necessary, fixing military communications equipment. Ensured that all the fighting forces had the correct fuel to be able to conduct combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Specialized training and facilitation in Emergency Response Team (ERT) management. Supervised records and funds for over 700 inmates, inmate movement within the facility, and weekend inmates. Collected, evaluated and prepared operation and intelligence information at battalion and higher headquarters for combined arms combat operations. Education Certificate Criminal Justice 2011 - 2012 Strayer University Washington, DC


Ruth Boyd Security Officer Contact Info Charlotte, NC (810) 555-2929 rboyd@example.com Skills Loss PreventionClient SiteSpecial EventsSafety HazardsCredit ReportsTop PriorityNYSGeneral PublicFinancial CrimesVisible Deterrent Employment History Security Officer 2020 - Present Securitas Services Charlotte, NC Act as the primary response until law enforcement assistance arrives when situations warrant. Observed and report detailed narratives of daily activities on site. Facilitated smooth operations by providing excellent customer service to the hundreds of patrons that entered and exited the Fairgrounds daily. Oversee subordinate uniformed public safety personnel assigned to the shift on all phases of safety and security work. Provided access control via two-way radio communication. Public Safety Officer 2019 - 2020 Allied Universal Charlotte, NC Oversee toxic gas monitoring system, fire suppression systems, and dispatching all emergency calls for the Global Foundries site. Armed / Unarmed Security Officer Provided a safe and secure work environment for all Eisai Inc. employees and visitors. Keep an up to date log of all active security breaches, incoming visitors and personnel. Coordinate security response to emergency or other unusual situations. Trained and supervised new Public Safety Officers when hired for the rest of my time being. Trained as a Public Safety Dispatch Officer. Loss Prevention Agent 2011 - 2019 Walmart Troy, AL Provide high quality customer service to all customers who enter. Monitor and operate CCTV for evidence purposes. Helped install all of the DC 6051 CCTV equipment (cameras, DVRs and pulling cable). Reviewed cashier exception reports, refund review reports, scanning exception reports, and scan out/stolen reports. Education Associate's Degree Criminal Justice 2009 - 2011 Troy University Troy, AL


Jeffrey Hart Security Officer New York, NY (970) 555-1736 jhart@example.com Experience Security Officer2019 - Present Securitas Services•New York, NY Certified in CPR and First Aid Trained how to identify gang members and gang signsExperience Continued: Responded to all emergency situations as directed by policies. Perform administrative activities such as completing time sheets, building schedules and filling out incident reports when needed. Security Guard2018 - 2019 Securitas Services•Boston, MA Provided security services for local businesses, and plazas Theft detection Crime deterrence Provided security services in high class buildings and reputable tourist locations Responsible for efficient communication via comms. Secure area for crowd controlled movement Pat down individuals for weapons and other contraband Provide information for patron entering the event Provide security to the medical facility. Monitored over 200 cameras during events to ensure safety, working closely with crowd control staff and local police departments. Loss Prevention Associate2011 - 2018 J. C. Penney•Lenexa, KS Prepared court documents and incident reports as well as attended. Operate CCTV Analyze information and evaluate results to choose the best solution to solve problems. Skills Top PriorityException ReportsPhysical SecurityPotential TheftClient PropertyCommunicationFacilityCctvApprehend ShopliftersCompany Policies Education High School Diploma 2011 - 2011

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Security Officer Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 25% of Security Officers are proficient in Customer Service, Ladders, and Patrol. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Good judgment, and Observation skills.

We break down the percentage of Security Officers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Customer Service, 25%
Coordinated training programs which included security operations, customer service and all work flow related to office documentations.
Ladders, 17%
Open and Close roof access ladders.
Patrol, 14%
Conducted roving perimeter patrol of the Wal-Mart establishment maintaining the safety of their customers according to their Standard Operating Procedures.
Security Services, 6%
Provided security for nuclear carriers including perimeter security services while arriving at the facility to pick up or deliver nuclear materials.
Patients, 5%
Provided safeguard and protection of Trident Medical Center medical staff from mentally challenged patient and prevented patients from physically harming themselves.
Emergency Situations, 4%
Followed proper procedure in emergency situations and armed and disarmed security alarms and logged in all activity in daily shift report

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"customer service," "ladders," and "patrol" aren't the only skills we found security officers list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of security officer responsibilities that we found, including:

Arguably the most important personality trait for a security officer to have happens to be communication skills. An example from a resume said this about the skill, "security guards and officers must communicate effectively with others, even in stressful situations." Additionally, other resumes have pointed out that security officers can use communication skills to "utilized my knowledge in protective services, customer services, loss prevention, communication skills, troubleshooting, and emergency management. "

While it may not be the most important skill, we found that many security officer duties rely on good judgment. This example from a security officer explains why: "security guards and officers must be able to quickly determine the best course of action when a dangerous situation arises." This resume example is just one of many ways security officers are able to utilize good judgment: "investigate unusual occurrences or reports of security violations with urgency and good problem solving manner and process. "

Security officers are also known for observation skills, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a security officer resume: "security guards and officers must be alert and aware of their surroundings, and be able to quickly recognize anything out of the ordinary." We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "trained new recruits in passenger and baggage screening, alertness and observation, professionalism, and passenger interaction. "

A security officer responsibilities sometimes require "patience." The responsibilities that rely on this skills are shown by this resume excerpt: "security guards and officers may need to spend long periods standing and observing their environment without distractions." This resume example shows how this skill is used by security officers: "worked up to 10+ hours a day depended upon to express patience and alertness, especially during graveyard shifts"

See the full list of security officer skills.

We've found that 23.7% of security officers have earned a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, 2.2% earned their master's degrees before becoming a security officer. While it's true that some security officers have a college degree, it's generally possible to become one with only a high school degree. In fact, one out of every three security officers did not spend the extra money to attend college.

Those security officers who do attend college, typically earn either criminal justice degrees or business degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for security officers include general studies degrees or psychology degrees.

Once you're ready to become a security officer, you should explore the companies that typically hire security officers. According to security officer resumes that we searched through, security officers are hired the most by Allied Universal, Securitas AB, and DSI Security. Currently, Allied Universal has 17,912 security officer job openings, while there are 3,919 at Securitas AB and 363 at DSI Security.

If you're interested in companies where security officers make the most money, you'll want to apply for positions at Battelle, The Nightingale-Bamford School, and National Grid plc. We found that at Battelle, the average security officer salary is $50,237. Whereas at The Nightingale-Bamford School, security officers earn roughly $49,203. And at National Grid plc, they make an average salary of $45,607.

View more details on security officer salaries across the United States.

We also looked into companies who hire security officers from the top 100 educational institutions in the U.S. The top three companies that hire the most from these institutions include Securitas AB, Securitas AB, and U.S. Security Associates.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious security officers are:

Allied Universal17,912 Security Officers Jobs
Securitas AB3,919 Security Officers Jobs
DSI Security363 Security Officers Jobs

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What Unarmed Security Guards Do

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.

In this section, we take a look at the annual salaries of other professions. Take unarmed security guard for example. On average, the unarmed security guards annual salary is $1,845 higher than what security officers make on average every year.

Even though security officers and unarmed security guards have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require patrol, security services, and emergency situations in the day-to-day roles.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A security officer responsibility is more likely to require skills like "customer service," "ladders," "patients," and "pet." Whereas a unarmed security guard requires skills like "unarmed security," "english language," "law enforcement," and "unarmed guard." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

Unarmed security guards really shine in the utilities industry with an average salary of $31,285. Whereas security officers tend to make the most money in the utilities industry with an average salary of $29,956.

On average, unarmed security guards reach similar levels of education than security officers. Unarmed security guards are 0.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Security Specialist?

A security specialist is responsible for maintaining the security of an organization's database, ensuring that it's free from cyber threats and unusual activities. Security specialists' duties include upgrading hardware and software applications, configuring networks to improve optimization, addressing any unauthorized access on the database, troubleshooting system discrepancies, conducting security audits on the system, and improving automated processes. A security specialist must have a strong command of programming languages and system codes, as well as broad experience with technical expertise.

Next up, we have the security specialist profession to look over. This career brings along a higher average salary when compared to a security officer annual salary. In fact, security specialists salary difference is $18,791 higher than the salary of security officers per year.

A similarity between the two careers of security officers and security specialists are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "customer service," "ladders," and "patrol. "

But both careers also use different skills, according to real security officer resumes. While security officer responsibilities can utilize skills like "patients," "pet," "safety hazards," and "surveillance equipment," some security specialists use skills like "security clearance," "security program," "public safety," and "dod."

When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, security specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than security officers. In fact, they're 4.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Community Services Officer Compares

Community service offers or CSO support in crime response, investigation, and prevention where police powers are not necessary. The community service officers assist the police officers in terms of upholding order and law in the community. They provide citizens with customer service, community outreach, and patrol. It is their job to implement city codes and other non-criminal police associated duties. They provide non-EMS in-home and on-site assistance to the citizens. Also, they respond to non-criminal complaints, building checks, and more.

The third profession we take a look at is community services officer. On an average scale, these workers bring in higher salaries than security officers. In fact, they make a $6,938 higher salary per year.

Using security officers and community services officers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "patrol," "emergency situations," and "cpr," but the other skills required are very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from security officer resumes include skills like "customer service," "ladders," "security services," and "patients," whereas a community services officer might be skilled in "public safety," "rehabilitation," "criminal justice," and "animal control. "

Community services officers make a very good living in the education industry with an average annual salary of $42,187. Whereas security officers are paid the highest salary in the utilities industry with the average being $29,956.

Community services officers typically study at similar levels compared with security officers. For example, they're 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of an Enforcement Officer

The enforcement officer is someone who promotes and enforces policies, instructions, and obligations of tenants. An enforcement officer aims to resolve two parties' issues that may arise from orders given by the admin or management. Among the enforcement officers' tasks is to assist in evictions, render payments, and inform them of new ordinances and instructions for tenants to abide by. An enforcement officer may also be tasked to ensure that a judgment or resolution is enforced and observed.

The fourth career we look at typically earns higher pay than security officers. On average, enforcement officers earn a difference of $7,345 higher per year.

While both security officers and enforcement officers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like customer service, patrol, and security services, the two careers also vary in other skills.

While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "ladders," "patients," "pet," and "safety hazards" are skills that have shown up on security officers resumes. Additionally, enforcement officer uses skills like data entry, issue citations, collating, and public safety on their resumes.

Now, let's take a closer look at the financials in each career. The government industry tends to pay more for enforcement officers with an average of $45,770. While the highest security officer annual salary comes from the utilities industry.

In general, enforcement officers reach similar levels of education when compared to security officers resumes. Enforcement officers are 4.1% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

What a Security Officer Does FAQs

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.

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.

Have more questions? See all answers to common protective service questions.

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Updated October 2, 2020