🛡️ Public Safety
↑ 4% growth · Average
Security Officer / Guard
Security officers protect people and property in hospitals, schools, casinos, event venues, and corporate campuses. Armed security roles pay significantly more and may require a firearms permit.
$34,750
Median Salary
1.1M
US Jobs
2–4 weeks
Training
$300–$1,500
Typical Cost
💰 Salary & Earning Potential
Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Figures represent national averages — local wages vary by state, city, and employer.
Want your state's salary? Select a state below to see local wage data, demand, and training programs.
📈 Job Outlook
4%
Projected Growth (10yr)
Average
1.1M
Total US Jobs
Active positions nationwide
State security license
Required Credential
State security license (Class D in FL, Class G for armed)
🎓 Training & Education
Typical Program
Security Officer Training + Firearm training (if armed)
Program Length
2–4 weeks
Typical Tuition
$300–$1,500
Work Setting
Hospitals, casinos, event venues, government facilities, retail
🏆 Credential Required: State security license (Class D in FL, Class G for armed)
☀️ Day in the Life
A typical day as a Security Officer / Guard involves working closely with clients and colleagues in a Hospitals environment. You'll apply your training daily while building expertise and advancing your career.
⚖️ Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✅ Strong job security
- ✅ Rewarding work
- ✅ Clear career progression
- ✅ Growing demand
Challenges
- ⚠️ Can be physically demanding
- ⚠️ May require ongoing certification
- ⚠️ Entry-level wages vary by region
🗺️ Security Officer / Guard by State
See local salary data, licensing requirements, and schools in your state:
FL FloridaGA GeorgiaTX TexasCA CaliforniaNY New YorkNC North CarolinaIL IllinoisOH OhioPA PennsylvaniaAZ ArizonaAL AlabamaAR ArkansasLA LouisianaMS MississippiSC South CarolinaTN TennesseeVA VirginiaWV West VirginiaKY KentuckyMD MarylandDE DelawareNJ New JerseyCT ConnecticutMA MassachusettsRI Rhode IslandNH New HampshireVT VermontME MaineMI MichiganIN IndianaWI WisconsinMN MinnesotaIA IowaMO MissouriND North DakotaSD South DakotaNE NebraskaKS KansasOK OklahomaCO ColoradoMT MontanaWY WyomingID IdahoUT UtahNV NevadaNM New MexicoWA WashingtonOR OregonAK AlaskaHI HawaiiDC Washington DC
🏫 Schools and programs related to Security Officer / Guard
USA Career Finder combines federal education datasets, state-approved training lists, workforce training provider lists, and licensing-board sources where available. Always confirm program availability, cost, admissions requirements, and licensing eligibility directly with the school.
Federal dataset match
Community College
Eastern Gateway Community College
📍 Steubenville, OH
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
North Central Texas College
📍 Gainesville, TX
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Mahoning County Career and Technical Center
📍 Canfield, OH
Award
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center
📍 Choctaw, OK
Award
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Butler Technology and Career Development Schools
📍 Monroe, OH
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Volunteer State Community College
📍 Gallatin, TN
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Ivy Tech Community College
📍 Indianapolis, IN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Pike County Joint Vocational School District
📍 Piketon, OH
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
📍 Lexington, KY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
North Shore Community College
📍 Danvers, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Fox Valley Technical College
📍 Appleton, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus
📍 Roswell, NM
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
El Camino Community College District
📍 Torrance, CA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Moraine Valley Community College
📍 Palos Hills, IL
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Delgado Community College
📍 New Orleans, LA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
East Los Angeles College
📍 Monterey Park, CA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County
📍 Newark, OH
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southern Maine Community College
📍 South Portland, ME
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
William Rainey Harper College
📍 Palatine, IL
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College
📍 Gardner, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Central Oregon Community College
📍 Bend, OR
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mt San Jacinto Community College District
📍 San Jacinto, CA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Fayetteville Technical Community College
📍 Fayetteville, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Guilford Technical Community College
📍 Jamestown, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Springfield Technical Community College
📍 Springfield, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Milwaukee Area Technical College
📍 Milwaukee, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg
📍 Saint Petersburg, FL
Associate
Federal dataset match
Community College
Blue Ridge Community College
📍 Flat Rock, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Davidson-Davie Community College
📍 Thomasville, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Louisiana State University-Eunice
📍 Eunice, LA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Bucks County Community College
📍 Newtown, PA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Community College of Rhode Island
📍 Warwick, RI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Santa Rosa Junior College
📍 Santa Rosa, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Kansas City Kansas Community College
📍 Kansas City, KS
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Oakland Community College
📍 Auburn Hills, MI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Metropolitan Community College Area
📍 Omaha, NE
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Passaic County Community College
📍 Paterson, NJ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Central Piedmont Community College
📍 Charlotte, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Sandhills Community College
📍 Pinehurst, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Coconino Community College
📍 Flagstaff, AZ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
City College of San Francisco
📍 San Francisco, CA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Los Angeles Valley College
📍 Valley Glen, CA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Des Moines Area Community College
📍 Ankeny, IA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
📍 Kalamazoo, MI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mitchell Community College
📍 Statesville, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Columbus State Community College
📍 Columbus, OH
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Suffolk County Community College
📍 Selden, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Connecticut State Community College
📍 Hartford, CT
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Hennepin Technical College
📍 Brooklyn Park, MN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
📍 Kansas City, MO
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College
📍 Utica, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Coastal Carolina Community College
📍 Jacksonville, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Durham Technical Community College
📍 Durham, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southwestern Oregon Community College
📍 Coos Bay, OR
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Tarrant County College District
📍 Fort Worth, TX
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southern Arkansas University Tech
📍 Camden, AR
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus
📍 Jefferson, OH
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Blue Mountain Community College
📍 Pendleton, OR
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Walters State Community College
📍 Morristown, TN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
📍 Phenix City, AL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lake Tahoe Community College
📍 South Lake Tahoe, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Kirkwood Community College
📍 Cedar Rapids, IA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College
📍 Sioux City, IA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
📍 Elizabethtown, KY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Gateway Community and Technical College
📍 Florence, KY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Bossier Parish Community College
📍 Bossier City, LA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Cape Fear Community College
📍 Wilmington, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Catawba Valley Community College
📍 Hickory, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mid-State Technical College
📍 Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Metro Technology Centers
📍 Oklahoma City, OK
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Iowa Central Community College
📍 Fort Dodge, IA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lakes Region Community College
📍 Laconia, NH
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College
📍 Winston-Salem, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
📍 Hampton, VA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Waukesha County Technical College
📍 Pewaukee, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Cochise County Community College District
📍 Sierra Vista, AZ
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College
📍 Chicago, IL
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lewis and Clark Community College
📍 Godfrey, IL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Hutchinson Community College
📍 Hutchinson, KS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Jefferson Community and Technical College
📍 Louisville, KY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Greenfield Community College
📍 Greenfield, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northland Community and Technical College
📍 Thief River Falls, MN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Helena College University of Montana
📍 Helena, MT
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ
📍 Cranford, NJ
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Johnston Community College
📍 Smithfield, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Wake Technical Community College
📍 Raleigh, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Clackamas Community College
📍 Oregon City, OR
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Community College of Allegheny County
📍 Pittsburgh, PA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Harrisburg Area Community College
📍 Harrisburg, PA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Blackhawk Technical College
📍 Janesville, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Pioneer Technology Center
📍 Ponca City, OK
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College
📍 Ruidoso, NM
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Garden City Community College
📍 Garden City, KS
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
📍 Bowling Green, KY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
📍 Paducah, KY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Eastern Maine Community College
📍 Bangor, ME
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
College of Southern Maryland
📍 La Plata, MD
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Frederick Community College
📍 Frederick, MD
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Cape Cod Community College
📍 West Barnstable, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Quinsigamond Community College
📍 Worcester, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Wayne County Community College District
📍 Detroit, MI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Rowan College at Burlington County
📍 Mount Laurel, NJ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
📍 Las Cruces, NM
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Jefferson Community College
📍 Watertown, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northampton County Area Community College
📍 Bethlehem, PA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northcentral Technical College
📍 Wausau, WI
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Black River Technical College
📍 Pocahontas, AR
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Prairie State College
📍 Chicago Heights, IL
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Waubonsee Community College
📍 Sugar Grove, IL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Coffeyville Community College
📍 Coffeyville, KS
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Johnson County Community College
📍 Overland Park, KS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Hazard Community and Technical College
📍 Hazard, KY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southwestern Michigan College
📍 Dowagiac, MI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mercer County Community College
📍 West Windsor, NJ
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
📍 Salisbury, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Community College of Philadelphia
📍 Philadelphia, PA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Chattanooga State Community College
📍 Chattanooga, TN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Sussex County Community College
📍 Newton, NJ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
NorthWest Arkansas Community College
📍 Bentonville, AR
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Copper Mountain Community College
📍 Joshua Tree, CA
Certificate 2-4yr
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