How To Become A Surveillance Officer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a surveillance officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Kimberly Retzlaff M.S.

The surveillance officer is responsible for protecting people and property against any illegal activity through patrolling and monitoring the premises, but responsibilities may differ from one workplace to another.

In some workplaces such as retail stores, you patrol parking lots, protect the people and merchandise, and prevent thefts by customers and employees; in other workplaces such as offices and apartment complexes, you guard workers, residents, and equipment through monitoring vehicles and persons who enter and leave the premises.

There are not usually specific education requirements to become a security officer. However, it will help if you have a high school diploma or equivalent.

The job outlook for surveillance officers is pleasing, as they are in continuous demand for protection against crime and vandalism. In this regard, the salary for this position is also quite decent. You can earn as much as $28,530 as an entry-level surveillance officer.

What general advice would you give to a surveillance officer?

Kimberly Retzlaff M.S.

Professor/ Internship Coordinator, Lincoln

Several skills will become increasingly important in the next 3-5 years. The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice addresses many of the topics including Data analysis, Cyber Security, Crisis Intervention & De-escalation, Cultural Competency and Diversity Training, Trauma Informed Practices, Technology Innovation and Integration, Legal and Policy Analysis, Community Engagement and Collaboration, Ethical Decision Making, Adaptability and Resilience.

ScoreSurveillance OfficerUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $32,554

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.9

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.71%

Asian 5.32%

Black or African American 11.94%

Hispanic or Latino 18.37%

Unknown 5.53%

White 57.14%

Gender

female 33.07%

male 66.93%

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

8.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.8

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a surveillance officer

Explore surveillance officer education requirements

Most common surveillance officer degrees

Bachelor's

41.9 %

Associate

27.3 %

High School Diploma

16.2 %

Start to develop specific surveillance officer skills

Skills	Percentages
CCTV	12.85%
Internal Controls	9.20%
Casino Floor	8.30%
Safety Hazards	8.15%
Incident Reports	5.62%

Complete relevant surveillance officer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New surveillance 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 surveillance officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real surveillance officer resumes.

Research surveillance officer duties and responsibilities

Monitor daily activities of casino and surrounding property by using CCTV monitoring devices.
Save CCTV recordings which are sometimes utilize as evidence against allege criminals in police investigations.
Perform case investigation activities relate to drug safety for the assigned therapeutic area without E2B failures ..
Work with avigilon DVR and CTV system.

Prepare your surveillance officer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your surveillance officer resume.

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Choose from 10+ customizable surveillance officer resume templates

Build a professional surveillance 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 surveillance officer resume.