Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between unarmed security guards and protection security officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a protection security officer has an average salary of $35,926, which is higher than the $32,946 average annual salary of an unarmed security guard.
The top three skills for an unarmed security guard include unarmed security, patrol and law enforcement. The most important skills for a protection security officer are patrol, safety hazards, and law enforcement.
| Unarmed Security Guard | Protection Security Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $32,946 | $35,926 |
| Hourly rate | $15.84 | $17.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 99,613 | 122,427 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A protection security officer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security within the premises to protect the employees and company assets. Protection security officers inspect the facilities and patrol around the building to identify unusual activities and monitor suspicious people. They also check surveillance equipment and escalate incident reports to the security team for immediate actions to prevent potential hazards and operational delays. A protection security officer must have excellent communication and observational skills, especially in assisting and verifying the identity of guests and checking their luggage upon arrival.
Unarmed security guards and protection security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Unarmed Security Guard | Protection Security Officer | |
| Average salary | $32,946 | $35,926 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $45,000 | Between $26,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Inter-Con Security Systems | National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Utilities |
There are a few differences between an unarmed security guard and a protection security officer in terms of educational background:
| Unarmed Security Guard | Protection Security Officer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between unarmed security guards' and protection security officers' demographics:
| Unarmed Security Guard | Protection Security Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 5.7% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |