Careers · Explore one path
Security Guards
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
Other titles employers use
Armed Security Officer · Campus Security Officer (CSO) · Custom Protection Officer (CPO) · Customer Service Security Officer · Hotel Security Officer · Loss Prevention Officer · Safety and Security Officer · Security Agent
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
- Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
- Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
- Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
- Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
- Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
Subjects to know
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Problem Sensitivity
- Far Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Selective Attention
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.4 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.4 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.4 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 2.3 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 79%
- A certificate or some college 14%
- A two-year degree 5%
- A four-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Office suite software
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
- Document management software
- Word processing software
- Transaction security and virus protection software
- Video conferencing software
- Network monitoring software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 205,500
- Job openings each year
- 27,980
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 13.3%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 205,500 | 27,980 | 13.3% |
| New York | 135,790 | 1,090 | 8.8% |
| Texas | 110,280 | 15,170 | 19.1% |
| Florida | 93,510 | 12,580 | 7.5% |
| Illinois | 47,600 | 6,290 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 40,960 | 5,400 | — |
| New Jersey | 39,070 | 5,150 | −1.4% |
| Georgia | 37,550 | 5,090 | 11.2% |
| Virginia | 32,800 | 4,360 | 2.1% |
| Ohio | 32,650 | 4,290 | −2.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 30,780 | 4,150 | 8.2% |
| Maryland | 30,010 | 3,990 | 2.2% |
| North Carolina | 28,320 | 3,790 | 5.5% |
| Washington | 27,400 | 4,470 | 28.9% |
| Tennessee | 26,930 | 3,620 | 6.5% |
| Arizona | 26,130 | 3,520 | 8.6% |
| Nevada | 21,940 | 2,980 | 12.7% |
| Michigan | 21,380 | 2,790 | −4.9% |
| Missouri | 19,540 | 2,620 | 5.9% |
| Colorado | 18,750 | 2,530 | 9.1% |
| Indiana | 17,650 | 2,330 | — |
| South Carolina | 15,660 | 2,110 | 8.4% |
| Alabama | 14,960 | 1,990 | 2.0% |
| District of Columbia | 14,420 | 1,930 | 4.9% |
| Louisiana | 13,960 | 1,830 | −2.3% |
| Minnesota | 13,060 | 1,740 | 3.0% |
| Kentucky | 12,470 | 1,650 | 1.4% |
| Oklahoma | 12,210 | 1,630 | 2.8% |
| Connecticut | 12,060 | 1,600 | 2.1% |
| Oregon | 10,890 | 1,480 | 11.2% |
| Wisconsin | 10,470 | 1,390 | 1.8% |
| Mississippi | 9,950 | 1,320 | 1.5% |
| Massachusetts | 8,060 | 1,070 | 1.9% |
| New Mexico | 7,980 | 1,070 | 7.1% |
| Utah | 7,140 | 980 | 18.6% |
| Arkansas | 6,580 | 880 | 4.1% |
| Iowa | 6,510 | 860 | 1.2% |
| West Virginia | 6,450 | 860 | 4.9% |
| Kansas | 5,550 | 730 | −1.8% |
| Nebraska | 4,810 | 640 | 2.8% |
| Idaho | 3,420 | 460 | 8.6% |
| Rhode Island | 3,040 | 400 | 2.4% |
| Delaware | 3,030 | 400 | — |
| Alaska | 2,860 | 380 | 5.5% |
| New Hampshire | 2,800 | 370 | 2.2% |
| North Dakota | 1,570 | 210 | 4.0% |
| Maine | 1,560 | 200 | −6.0% |
| South Dakota | 1,420 | 190 | 4.4% |
| Montana | 1,240 | 170 | 6.0% |
| Guam | 1,170 | 160 | 23.2% |
| Wyoming | 1,100 | 150 | 14.6% |
| Virgin Islands | 1,040 | 140 | 13.0% |
| Vermont | 920 | 120 | 9.5% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- Degrees each year
- 1,454
- Admit rate
- 57%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 895
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Sam Houston State University
- Degrees each year
- 888
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 572
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
Florida State University
- Degrees each year
- 554
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
California State University-Sacramento
- Degrees each year
- 539
- Admit rate
- 94%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Florida International University
- Degrees each year
- 492
- Admit rate
- 59%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Degrees each year
- 476
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Compare every college offering criminal justice and corrections