What Are the Job Duties of a Security Guard?
Security guard responsibilities revolve around protecting an employer's property. These professionals can work in a variety of settings, such as public buildings, universities, banks, and museums. If you're wondering more about a security guard job description, read on for details about job duties you can expect.
Security Guard Role and Facts
| Licensure/Registration | Required by most states |
| On-the-Job Training | Short-term |
| Key Skills | Observation, decision making, physical strength |
| Similar Occupations | Police officer, corrections officer, detective |
| Job Outlook (2016-2026) | 6%* |
| Average Salary (2018) | $32,050* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
What Do Security Guards Do?
Your day-to-day security guard responsibilities depend on the type of location in which you work. Security guards are employed by a wide variety of locations, including retail stores, apartment complexes, and hospitals. Duties may also vary depending on whether you're a mobile or stationary guard. Generally, a security officer job description includes monitoring safety, enforcing rules, and responding to security problems. The primary security guard duties fall into three major categories: problem prevention, problem response, and communication with the public. All three of these security guard job duties are discussed below.
Security Guard Duties
Prevent Security Problems
Being physically present and visible may deter theft, vandalism, assault, or other undesirable behavior. You may patrol the premises, observing unusual behavior and other security problems, or you may be assigned to a guard post, overseeing security monitor screens. When guarding a closed facility, you may walk around on patrols and use a key or swipe card to show that you have checked significant points, making sure that doors are secured and locked and that areas are undisturbed. As part of your security guard role, you may also be responsible for writing detailed reports of what occurred during your shift.
Respond to Incidents
When responding to an incident, your duties and responsibilities may vary, depending on state licensing laws and whether or not you're permitted to carry a weapon. You may be called upon to remove disruptive persons from the premises, check for intruders, or manage crowd control in emergencies. If you're the only guard on site, you may also handle other problems on the premises, such as fires and medical emergencies, by calling the appropriate services and containing the event as much as possible.
Communicate with the Public
The ability to communicate with the public is important for maintaining security and safety. For example, you may need to offer assurance to people in distress, administer first aid, verbally enforce rules, and provide directional guidance to customers in large buildings. Depending on the facility, you may be required to authorize people to enter the building and check if they have hazardous objects.
Employment and Salary Outlook
Employment for security guards is estimated to increase by 6% from 2016-2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov). The average salary earned by security guards was reported as $32,050 by the BLS in May 2018. However, salaries can vary greatly depending on the employing organization or agency. For instance, the BLS reported that guards employed by natural gas distribution companies earned an average annual salary of $61,720, while security guards employed by the gambling industry earned an average of $30,750.
Security guards have a wide range of responsibilities depending on their location of employment, but generally these duties fall into the categories of preventing problems, responding to problems, and communicating with the public. If these job duties appeal to you, learn more about how to become a security guard.