Career
First-line supervisors of security workers
Lead the security team that keeps a place safe.
$55,940
Median pay
+3.7%
Job growth, 2025–35
6,800
Openings a year
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical education
None required
Typical time after high school
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- Investigate disturbances on the premises, such as security alarms, altercations, and suspicious activity.
- Patrol the premises to prevent or detect intrusion, protect property, or preserve order.
- Monitor and authorize entry of employees, visitors, or other persons.
- Secure entrances and exits by locking doors and gates.
- Write reports documenting observations made while on patrol.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on persuasion & leadership, then information & systems?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Investigate disturbances on the premises, such as security alarms, altercations, and suspicious activity.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though on-the-job training is typical, for a median of $55,940 a year and 6,800 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Criminal JusticeSee the degree →
- Security and Loss Prevention ServicesCIP 43.0109
- Securities Services Administration/ManagementCIP 43.0112
- Homeland Security, OtherCIP 43.0399
- Security Science and Technology, GeneralCIP 43.0401
- Security Science and Technology, OtherCIP 43.0499
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Security Managers
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$69,500 · +0.1%
- First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants
- Security Management Specialists
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$49,100 · +3.2%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.