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What is a security patrol officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Security patrol officers help maintain the safety of a building by conducting regular patrols around the premises. Their main duties include performing regular patrols, conducting inspections, monitoring surveillance equipment, and checking if access points are secure.

In the event of an emergency or intrusion, a security patrol officer sounds an alarm to get help from authorities, facilitates the evacuation of people in the building, and administers first aid when needed. They may also deescalate situations by talking to intruders or restraining them.

Apart from these duties, a security patrol officer maintains a daily log and reports to management about irregularities or suspicious activity.

The role of a security patrol officer requires a high school diploma and training from a reputable agency. More than that, a security patrol officer must be physically fit enough to lift heavy objects, subdue intruders, and run when needed. They must also have the ability to stay calm in high-pressure situations and display good judgment when dealing with suspicious activity around the premises.

The average salary of a security patrol officer is $29,000 a year. They typically work on shifting schedules, and officers that work night shifts may earn a night differential.

ScoreSecurity Patrol OfficerUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $31,673

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.6

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.84%

Asian 5.25%

Black or African American 11.48%

Hispanic or Latino 23.64%

Unknown 5.75%

White 52.04%

Gender

female 19.36%

male 80.64%

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 Patrol Officer career paths

Key steps to become a security patrol officer

  1. Explore security patrol officer education requirements

    Most common security patrol officer degrees

    High School Diploma

    37.1 %

    Associate

    26.6 %

    Bachelor's

    20.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific security patrol officer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patrol51.49%
    Customer Service22.95%
    Security Services6.19%
    Alertness2.55%
    Emergency Situations2.10%
  3. Complete relevant security patrol officer training and internships

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

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

    • Maintain alertness while on post.
    • Apply patient restraints as needed.
    • Certify CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and a (automate external defibrillator).
    • Remove stall vehicles from highway lanes to the side shoulder or a CHP designate safe area.
  6. Prepare your security patrol officer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your security patrol 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 patrol 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 Patrol Officer Resume templates

    Build a professional Security Patrol 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 Patrol Officer resume.
    Security Patrol Officer Resume
    Security Patrol Officer Resume
    Security Patrol Officer Resume
    Security Patrol Officer Resume
    Security Patrol Officer Resume
    Security Patrol Officer Resume
    Security Patrol Officer Resume
    Security Patrol Officer Resume
    Security Patrol Officer Resume
  7. Apply for security patrol officer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a security patrol 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 Patrol Officer Job

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Average security patrol officer salary

The average Security Patrol Officer salary in the United States is $31,673 per year or $15 per hour. Security patrol officer salaries range between $25,000 and $39,000 per year.

Average Security Patrol Officer Salary
$31,673 Yearly
$15.23 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do security patrol officers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

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1 Star

Security Patrol Officer reviews

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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


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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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