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The differences between tour guides and security guards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tour guide has an average salary of $32,323, which is higher than the $31,983 average annual salary of a security guard.
The top three skills for a tour guide include local history, customer service and safety practices. The most important skills for a security guard are customer service, patrol, and ladders.
| Tour Guide | Security Guard | |
| Yearly salary | $32,323 | $31,983 |
| Hourly rate | $15.54 | $15.38 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 1,043 | 101,728 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 34 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
As their title describes, tour guides offer guided tours to individuals or groups of visitors. Tour guides undertake research and plan tours, provide sightseeing advice, and organize excursions. They transport and accompany their guests to the tourist spots in specific destinations. They are expected to be experts on the historical background and culture of an area. A useful tour guide must be equipped with enough enthusiasm, punctuality, keen sense, strong communication skills, and a steel-trap memory.
Security guards are responsible for maintaining and ensuring the peace and safety of the building they are assigned to. They ensure that everyone who enters the building has official business to be done in the building. They are also in charge of patrolling and monitoring activities within the area. Security guards are also tasked to immobilize anyone who seems to pose a threat to the peace and safety of the building. They are also responsible for preventing any untoward incidences or crimes that may happen in the area. Security guards must be observant and alert to be able to succeed in their roles.
Tour guides and security guards have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tour Guide | Security Guard | |
| Average salary | $32,323 | $31,983 |
| Salary range | Between $18,000 And $55,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Lakewood, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Harley-Davidson | Basin Electric Power Cooperative |
| Best paying industry | Education | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a tour guide and a security guard in terms of educational background:
| Tour Guide | Security Guard | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between tour guides' and security guards' demographics:
| Tour Guide | Security Guard | |
| Average age | 34 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.8% Female, 53.2% | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 9.9% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |