Security Officer Hourly Pay, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 32,553 US job postings by 3,329 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for security officers: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 32,553 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for security officers in US job postings is $20.50 an hour (9,357 postings from 969 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $18.00 to $25.00 an hour.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $22.00 an hour (2,348 postings).
- The skills that most set security officer postings apart are customer service, cctv, security experience.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 2 years of experience.
Security Officer job postings in the US, October 2026
- $20.50/hr
- Median advertised pay (9,357 postings)
- $18.00–$25.00
- Middle 50% of postings
- $22.00/hr
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 32,553
- US job postings from 3,329 employers
How much does a security officer make an hour?
The median advertised pay is $20.50 an hour, from 9,357 US job postings by 969 employers that state pay. That is about $45,000 a year at 2,080 hours.
Advertised pay in 9,357 US security officer job postings: median $45,000 a year ($20.50 an hour), middle half $38,000 to $56,000.
- Median: $45,000 ($20.50/hr)
- 25th percentile: $38,000
- 75th percentile: $56,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.0% |
| $20K–$30K | 3.2% |
| $30K–$40K | 30.2% |
| $40K–$50K | 30.1% |
| $50K–$60K | 16.4% |
| $60K–$70K | 6.3% |
| $70K–$80K | 3.3% |
| $80K–$90K | 2.8% |
| $90K–$100K | 2.1% |
| $100K–$110K | 0.9% |
| $110K–$120K | 1.1% |
| $120K–$130K | 0.5% |
| $130K–$140K | 0.4% |
| $140K–$150K | 0.5% |
| $150K–$160K | 0.5% |
| $160K–$170K | 0.4% |
| $170K–$180K | 0.9% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $20.50 | $18.00–$25.00 | 2,722 | Security Officer, Security Guard, Armed Security Officer |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $86,000 | $56K–$122K | 427 | Security Specialist, Security Officer, Asset Protection Manager |
| All pay postings, annualised | $45,000 | $38K–$56K | 9,357 | – |
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median annual wage of Security Guards (33-9032) at $38,000 (May 2025). Postings advertise pay; the BLS measures what people earn, across all employers and levels.
What is the starting salary for a security officer?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $22.00 an hour (2,348 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $22.00/hr | 2,348 |
| 2-4 years | $25.00/hr | 1,439 |
| 5+ years | $34.50/hr | 1,885 |
Highest-paying security officer jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Specialist | $40.38/hr | 395 | 90 |
| Security Supervisor | $24.46/hr | 491 | 74 |
| Armed Security Officer | $22.50/hr | 1,175 | 106 |
| Loss Prevention Officer | $22.50/hr | 848 | 74 |
| Safety Officer | $21.00/hr | 316 | 101 |
| Security Officer (general) | $20.50/hr | 3,213 | 335 |
| Security Guard | $18.91/hr | 1,083 | 193 |
| Unarmed Security Officer | $18.50/hr | 540 | 73 |
Security officer pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $23.50/hr | $20.00–$30.01 | 1,210 | 13.7% |
| Washington | $23.50/hr | $21.00–$27.00 | 178 | 1.8% |
| Colorado | $22.50/hr | $20.18–$25.49 | 165 | 1.8% |
| Virginia | $22.25/hr | $18.24–$31.05 | 400 | 4.0% |
| Massachusetts | $22.00/hr | $20.00–$26.07 | 193 | 2.2% |
| New York | $21.50/hr | $18.50–$27.00 | 734 | 7.0% |
| Tennessee | $20.20/hr | $17.80–$26.90 | 154 | 2.2% |
| Illinois | $20.00/hr | $18.00–$22.81 | 254 | 3.5% |
| Maryland | $20.00/hr | $18.29–$26.43 | 145 | 1.7% |
| New Jersey | $19.45/hr | $17.52–$23.15 | 179 | 2.5% |
| Arizona | $19.43/hr | $18.27–$21.00 | 196 | 2.3% |
| Missouri | $18.54/hr | $17.51–$20.07 | 111 | 1.7% |
| Ohio | $18.50/hr | $16.88–$20.50 | 165 | 3.5% |
| Indiana | $18.02/hr | $17.00–$24.50 | 148 | 2.2% |
| Texas | $18.00/hr | $16.00–$21.50 | 525 | 7.7% |
| Florida | $18.00/hr | $16.35–$21.00 | 476 | 5.8% |
| North Carolina | $18.00/hr | $16.00–$21.00 | 281 | 3.3% |
| Kentucky | $17.85/hr | $17.00–$19.88 | 126 | 1.7% |
| Michigan | $17.74/hr | $16.13–$20.00 | 147 | 2.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $17.50/hr | $16.64–$19.17 | 386 | 5.0% |
| Georgia | $17.01/hr | $16.00–$19.50 | 159 | 2.8% |
| South Carolina | $17.00/hr | $16.09–$18.50 | 147 | 1.8% |
| Alabama | $17.00/hr | $15.50–$19.66 | 141 | 1.5% |
Skills employers ask for in security officer job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 32% |
| Customer service | 21% |
| Interpersonal skills | 15% |
| Attention to detail | 13% |
| Professionalism | 10% |
| Work independently | 9% |
| Problem-solving | 9% |
| Microsoft Office | 7% |
| Excel | 7% |
| Integrity | 6% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set security officers apart
- Professionalism3.1× as often as in all postings · 10%
- Sound judgment4.2× as often as in all postings · 5%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a security officer job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a security officer do?
Employers post these jobs as Security Guard, Security Specialist, Security Supervisor, Armed Security Officer, Unarmed Security Officer and other titles. The largest specializations are Security Guard (9%), Safety Officer (3%), Campus Safety Officer (2%), Security Specialist (4%), Armed Security Officer (11%), Security Manager (1%).
The closest official occupation is Security Guards (33-9032.00). Its most important tasks:
- 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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a security officer?
Among 3,080 postings that state a minimum, the median is 2 years. 2% say 0 years and 45% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 3,080 US security officer job postings: median 2 years, and 45% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 5% |
| 1 yr | 41% |
| 2 yrs | 26% |
| 3-4 yrs | 16% |
| 5-7 yrs | 9% |
| 8-9 yrs | under 1% |
| 10+ yrs | 3% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 62%, Part-time 38% of the 1,724 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a security officer: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Security Officer | 944 (28.4%) |
| Security Guard | 521 (15.7%) |
| Security Specialist | 221 (6.6%) |
| Security Supervisor | 140 (4.2%) |
| Armed Security Officer | 139 (4.2%) |
| Unarmed Security Officer | 96 (2.9%) |
| Security | 79 (2.4%) |
| Campus Supervisor | 73 (2.2%) |
| Armed Security Guard | 66 (2.0%) |
| Unarmed Security Guard | 65 (1.9%) |
| Public Safety Officer | 60 (1.8%) |
| Campus Safety Officer | 57 (1.7%) |
| Security Officer I | 55 (1.7%) |
| Security Manager | 53 (1.6%) |
| Campus Monitor | 50 (1.5%) |
| Overnight Security Officer | 44 (1.3%) |
| Security Officers | 41 (1.2%) |
| Security Agent | 40 (1.2%) |
| Part-Time Security Officer | 40 (1.2%) |
| Safety Officer | 39 (1.2%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Security officer job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | 2,532 | 521 | $18.50/hr | 1 year | communication, customer service, attention to detail |
| Security Specialist | 842 | 221 | – | – | communication, interpersonal skills, attention to detail |
Security Officer vs Security Guard
| Security Officer | Security Guard | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 11,276 | 2,532 |
| Employers | 944 | 521 |
| Median advertised pay | $20.50/hr | $18.50/hr |
| Median experience asked | 1 year | 1 year |
| Skills that stand out | – | – |
Security Officer compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security Officer | $20.50/hr | 2 years | 32,553 | – |
| Dispatcher | $22.21/hr | 2 years | 4,190 | 15 |
| Police Officer | $71K | 2 years | 2,690 | 14 |
| Correctional Officer | – | 1 year | 1,034 | 15 |
| Customer Service Representative | $19.00/hr | 1 year | 33,817 | 13 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Dispatcher | 15 | $22.21/hr |
| Police Officer | 14 | $71K |
| Correctional Officer | 15 | – |
| Customer Service Representative | 13 | $19.00/hr |
| Front Desk Agent | 15 | $18.50/hr |
| Mental Health Technician | 13 | $20.66/hr |
Applying for security officer jobs?
- Security officer resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find security officer jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
What are the highest-paying security officer jobs?
How much does a Security Guard make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 19 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.