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How to hire a surveillance agent

Surveillance agent hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring surveillance agents in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a surveillance agent is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new surveillance agent to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a surveillance agent, step by step

To hire a surveillance agent, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a surveillance agent:

Here's a step-by-step surveillance agent hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a surveillance agent job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new surveillance agent
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a surveillance agent do?

A Surveillance Agent provides security services to thwart off theft, fraud, and other criminal activities. They are in charge of monitoring surveillance cameras to detect suspicious behaviors, patrolling areas, enforcing security protocols such as inspections and identification checks, responding to distress, and investigating incidents. They must also understand the company's security needs, identify vulnerable security areas, and develop strategies to strengthen the security in the establishment. Surveillance Agents must maintain an active communication line with managers and other agents for an efficient workflow.

Learn more about the specifics of what a surveillance agent does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your surveillance agent job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a surveillance agent for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a surveillance agent to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a surveillance agent that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of surveillance agent salaries for various roles:

    Type of Surveillance AgentDescriptionHourly rate
    Surveillance AgentSecurity guards and gaming surveillance officers patrol and protect property against theft, vandalism, terrorism, and illegal activity.$10-22
    ObserverAn observer is responsible for supporting patients' conditions under the health personnel's supervision, ensuring that the medical operations comply with the institution's policies and procedures. Observers must have excellent communication and organization skills, responding to the patients' inquiries and concerns, and performing administrative tasks as required by the management... Show more$12-28
    AgentAgents are individuals who are employed by their clients to represent them in various dealings. Agents are usually employed by people in the show business industry, such as actors, writers, or directors... Show more$9-34
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Incident Reports
    • CCTV
    • Internal Controls
    • Zoom
    • Patrol
    • Cash Handling
    • Loss Prevention
    • Casino Floor
    • Video Surveillance
    • Casino Table Games
    • Electronic Surveillance Equipment
    • Circuit Television
    • Surveillance Systems
    • Policy Violations
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Develop and manage SAS and SQL programs to monitor hepatitis surveillance data quality.
    • Monitor CCTV for suspicious activity and report it to security department for apprehension.
    • Trend product performance and track clinical /technical data per FDA and international regulatory requirements, and escalate as needed.
    • Hand-delivered federal and civil subpoenas.
    More surveillance agent duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your surveillance agent job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A surveillance agent salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a surveillance agent in Louisiana may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level surveillance agent usually earns less than a senior-level surveillance agent. Additionally, a surveillance agent with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average surveillance agent salary

    $15.62hourly

    $32,488 yearly

    Entry-level surveillance agent salary
    $22,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average surveillance agent salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$41,683$20
    2Massachusetts$40,935$20
    3Maine$37,846$18
    4Colorado$35,366$17
    5Indiana$34,719$17
    6Ohio$34,704$17
    7Kansas$34,667$17
    8Pennsylvania$33,555$16
    9Nevada$32,808$16
    10Illinois$32,538$16
    11Virginia$31,147$15
    12Iowa$31,081$15
    13Missouri$30,819$15
    14New Mexico$27,928$13
    15Louisiana$27,561$13
    16Florida$26,596$13
    17Texas$26,340$13
    18Mississippi$24,537$12

    Average surveillance agent salary by company

  4. Writing a surveillance agent job description

    A surveillance agent job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a surveillance agent job description:

    Surveillance agent job description example

    The incumbent is responsible for performing technical surveillance duties to ensure state and federal gaming laws and policies and procedures are being maintained. He or she will perform surveillance of the gaming floor, parking lot, back-of-the-house areas, outbuildings, and shops by means of complex electronic and video equipment while promoting outstanding guest relations.
    Responsibilities

    * Responsible for observing, monitoring, and recording all activity occurring in the casino area and record observations in writing as required.
    * Record events in table games, slots, cage, hard count, soft count.
    * Must have a working knowledge of credit procedures, cash transaction reports, company procedures and Regulatory Regulations.
    * Perform duties in compliance with company standards and gaming regulations.
    * Assist in the coordination and resolution of emergency situations.
    * Responsible for disclosing irregularities, variances from procedures etc., observed during the performance of duties to the immediate attention of management.
    * Demonstrate a commitment to ensuring responsible gaming and responsible alcohol service by discreetly notifying appropriate managers of concerns and observations.
    * Responsible for cleaning and sanitizing work and public spaces.
    * Perform all other related and compatible duties as assigned.
    * Perform work regularly and adheres to all Virginia Lottery Regulations.

    Qualifications

    This knowledge and these abilities are typically acquired through the completion of a high school education, minimum of one (1) or more years of experience in a Security related field or gaming related positions (Cage, Slot, Table Games or Audit) preferred. Analytical, observational, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills. Casino Surveillance or related surveillance experience is an asset. 20/20 corrected vision is required.

    ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: (Licenses, Certifications, Testing, etc.):

    * Must obtain and maintain all licenses / certifications per Federal, State, and Virginia Lottery.
    * Must successfully pass background check.
    * Must successfully pass drug screening.
    * Must be twenty-one (21) years of age.
    * Must be able to work holidays and weekends, as well as flexible shifts.
    * Prior experience in the Gaming industry a plus.

    KNOWLEDGE OF:

    * Knowledge of computer applications.
    * Must be able to use a computer and operate efficiently.

    ABILITY TO:

    * Must be able to work overtime and or change shifts on short notice.
    * Must be able to get along with co-workers and work in a team environment.

    Options
  5. Post your job

    To find the right surveillance agent for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with surveillance agents they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit surveillance agents who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your surveillance agent job on Zippia to find and recruit surveillance agent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting surveillance agents requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new surveillance agent

    Once you've decided on a perfect surveillance agent candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a surveillance agent?

Hiring a surveillance agent comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting surveillance agents involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of surveillance agent recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $32,488 per year for a surveillance agent, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for surveillance agents in the US typically range between $10 and $22 an hour.

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