Security Guard/Officer Statistics

The following information is taken from Bureau Of Labor Statistics:

Security guards and gaming surveillance officers held over 1

million jobs in 2006. More than half of all jobs for security

guards were in investigation and security services, including

guard and armored car services. These organizations provide

security on a contract basis, assigning their guards to buildings

and other sites as needed. Most other security officers were

employed directly by educational services, hospitals, food services

and drinking places, traveler accommodation (hotels),

department stores, manufacturing firms, lessors of real estate

(residential and nonresidential buildings), and governments.

Guard jobs are found throughout the country, most commonly

in metropolitan areas.

A significant number of law enforcement officers work as

security guards when they are off duty, in order to supplement

their incomes. Often working in uniform and with the official

cars assigned to them, they add a high-profile security presence

to the establishment with which they have contracted.

At construction sites and apartment complexes, for example,

their presence often deters crime. (Police and detectives are

discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.)

Employment of security guards is expected

to grow by 17 percent between 2006 and 2016, which

is faster than the average for all occupations. This occupation

will have a very large number of new jobs arise, about

175,000 over the projections decade. Concern about crime,

vandalism, and terrorism continues to increase the need for

security. Demand for guards also will grow as private security

firms increasingly perform duties—such as providing security

at public events and in residential neighborhoods—that were

formerly handled by police officers.

Median annual wage-and-salary earnings of security guards

were $21,530 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned

between $17,620 and $27,430. The lowest 10 percent earned

less than $15,030, and the highest 10 percent earned more than

$35,840. Median annual earnings in the industries employing

the largest numbers of security guards were:

General medical and surgical hospitals................................$26,610

Elementary and secondary schools........................................26,290

Local government..................................................................24,950

Investigation, guard and armored car services.......................20,280

Security guards and gaming surveillance officers in 2006: 1,040,000  Projected employment by 2016: 1,216,000

Guards protect property, maintain security, and enforce regulations and standards of conduct in the establishments at which they work. Related security and protective service occupations include correctional officers, police and detectives, private detectives and investigators, and gaming services occupations.