Security Industry Overview

In a security job, you’ll protect people, property or businesses from fire, theft, vandalism, terrorism and crime.

Some common security jobs include:

• Police Officers: They enforce the law, investigate crimes and patrol an area. They also respond to calls for help, write traffic tickets and provide the first response in emergencies.
• Security Guards and Security Officers: In their security work, these professionals maintain order and protect people and property.
• Airport Safety Officers and Transportation Security Screeners: Their jobs most commonly involve using technology to examine passengers and baggage for weapons or explosives. They also guard baggage and freight and seek out criminals who target the nation’s transportation system.

Other jobs in security include retail loss-prevention specialists who work with technology, merchandise auditors, human resources and operations professionals to reduce theft from stores; correctional officers; casino security professionals; armored car guards; and private detectives.

Security Job Market

The outlook for employment in security is mixed:

• The number of police officer jobs will expand by 7 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than average. There’s a lot of turnover at the local level due to low salaries, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says, so jobs may open up even if the field doesn’t expand.
• The BLS forecasts that security guard jobs will grow 19 percent from 2010 to 2020, about average for most jobs.
• Airport safety officer jobs -- including transportation security screener jobs -- are expected to grow by 10 percent from 2010 to 2020, with many jobs being filled by the Transportation Safety Administration, the BLS says.

Security Salaries

Salaries in the security field are influenced by the level of training and education needed for the particular security career:

• Police officers need at least a high school diploma and in some places, a college degree. They often must attend an academy. The median police officer salary was $54,230 in 2011, the BLS says.
• The median salary for transportation security screeners -- federal employees who screen passengers and luggage at airports and other transportation facilities -- was $36,910 in 2011, the BLS reports. They must have a high school diploma or GED and complete a training program.
• The median security guard salary was $23,900 in 2011, according to the BLS. Some, but not all, security guard jobs require a high school diploma or GED.