Recent Growth In The Private Security Industry

The private security industry is growing. More than that – it has become a structural part of how American businesses and properties operate.

The U.S. security services market reached $49.1 billion in 2025, according to IBISWorld, with more than 1.27 million security officers employed nationwide (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Globally, the market stands at approximately $256 billion and is projected to reach $365 billion by 2035 (Future Market Insights).

For property owners, building managers, and facility directors in New Jersey and New York, knowing where the industry is headed shapes how you staff, contract, and plan.

“The expectations clients have today, in terms of technology, accountability, and professionalism, are completely different from what they were when I started. The business has matured, and so has what good security looks like.”
— Joseph Ferdinando, Founder, Building Security Services

How Big Is the U.S. Private Security Industry?

The U.S. security services industry was valued at $49.1 billion in 2025 (IBISWorld). That figure covers manned guarding, patrol services, alarm response, and related contract security work – the services that protect American businesses and properties every day.

Breaking it down:

• Guard and patrol services: $36.6 billion of the total U.S. market
• Outsourced security growth: The contract security market grew from $22 billion in 2014 to $33 billion in 2022 – a 50% increase in under a decade (Statista)
• Annual job openings: 162,300 per year, driven primarily by turnover (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Globally, the private security market is projected to grow from $256.2 billion in 2025 to $365 billion by 2035, at a CAGR of 3.6% (Future Market Insights). North America accounts for roughly 35-40% of that figure.

Key stat: Manned guarding is the dominant service type, representing 42.7% of the global private security market (Fortune Business Insights).

What’s Driving the Growth?

Demand for private security is not a single-factor story. Several forces are pushing spending higher and reinforcing each other.

Rising Crime and the Law Enforcement Gap

Property crime, retail theft, and workplace safety incidents continue to push businesses toward professional security. Municipal police departments in most American cities are stretched thin. The gap between what law enforcement can realistically cover and what businesses need is real, and private security fills it.

Retailers, hospitals, property managers, and schools increasingly contract security because consistent, on-site presence is something reactive policing cannot provide.

Infrastructure Expansion and Urban Development

New construction and commercial development in active markets, including northern New Jersey and the New York metro area, generate sustained demand for construction site security, building security services, and concierge staffing. Every new commercial building, residential high-rise, or mixed-use development creates a security need from the day groundbreaking begins.

In markets as active as New Jersey and New York City, that demand is constant.

The Shift to Outsourced Security

Businesses have moved steadily away from in-house security departments and toward contract providers. Outsourced security offers flexibility, compliance management, training infrastructure, and accountability that are difficult to replicate internally, and the data reflects it. The contract security market grew 50% in under a decade (Statista).

That trend has not reversed.

Technology Is Reshaping Security Services

Technology has changed both what security services can deliver and what clients expect from providers.

AI-powered surveillance systems, remote monitoring, and integrated access control now work alongside security officers rather than replacing them.

Adoption of AI surveillance, drones, and remote monitoring technology increased by 27% in 2024 (Technavio). By 2026, close to 40% of private security firms globally are expected to offer tech-integrated services as standard.

“Technology extends our reach and sharpens our response. But it doesn’t replace the judgment and accountability that a trained, professional security officer brings. The best security programs combine both.”
— Amanda DeAlmeida, Executive VP, Building Security Services

How Technology Is Being Applied

Technology	Application
AI surveillance	Real-time threat detection, behavioral pattern analysis
Remote video monitoring	Off-site oversight of multiple properties simultaneously
Access control integration	Credential management, visitor tracking, lockdown capabilities
Mobile patrol technology	GPS tracking, digital incident reporting, real-time communication
Body cameras	Officer accountability and incident documentation

For clients, what matters is not access to these tools but how well a provider integrates them into service delivery and officer training.

Employment: Who’s Working in Private Security?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1,272,400 security officers employed across the United States.

The industry generates approximately 162,300 job openings per year, driven primarily by turnover, not headcount expansion. Turnover rates run between 75% and 200% annually depending on market conditions. Staffing consistency is the industry’s defining operational challenge.

The industries employing the highest concentrations of security officers:

• Commercial real estate and property management
• Healthcare and hospital facilities
• Educational institutions (K–12 and higher education)
• Government buildings and public facilities
• Retail and entertainment venues

Compensation benchmarks:

• National median salary: $38,370/year (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• New York City average: $37,770/year, or $19.35/hour (BLS)

High turnover has real consequences for clients. It is why vetting a provider’s training standards, retention practices, and management accountability matters as much as price.

What This Means for Businesses in NJ and NY

The national numbers are useful context. The details that actually matter for businesses in New Jersey and New York are more specific.

Both states carry regulatory requirements – state licensing standards, wage floors, and in New York City, mandatory Fire Life Safety Director (FLSD) certifications for high-rise buildings. Meeting those requirements consistently separates professional providers from companies cutting corners.

“In NJ and NY, clients deserve more than a warm body in a uniform. They deserve officers who are trained, accountable, and backed by a management team that takes quality seriously. That’s what Building Security Services has spent 40 years building.”
— Amanda DeAlmeida, Executive VP, Building Security Services

BSS operates across both states, with dedicated branch management in New Jersey and New York. For properties requiring unarmed security officers, fire watch coverage, FLSD staffing, or concierge services, local knowledge is a requirement, not a selling point.

For a deeper look at the numbers, see BSS’s complete security guard industry statistics page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the private security industry growing?

Yes. The U.S. security services market was valued at $49.1 billion in 2025 (IBISWorld), and global demand is projected to grow from $256 billion in 2025 to $365 billion by 2035. Demand is driven by rising safety concerns, infrastructure development, and a sustained shift toward outsourced contract security.

How many people work in private security in the U.S.?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1,272,400 security officers employed in the United States. The industry generates approximately 162,300 job openings per year, primarily from turnover rather than new position growth.

Why are businesses choosing contract security over in-house security departments?

Contract providers offer flexibility, compliance management, training infrastructure, and accountability that are difficult to replicate internally. The U.S. outsourced security market grew from $22 billion in 2014 to $33 billion in 2022, a 50% increase, reflecting a clear and sustained shift in preference (Statista).

How is technology changing the private security industry?

AI surveillance, remote video monitoring, access control integration, and mobile reporting tools have become standard components of modern security programs. Adoption of AI surveillance and drone technology increased 27% in 2024 (Technavio). Technology extends a security officer’s capabilities but does not replace trained, accountable personnel.

What should businesses in NJ and NY look for when hiring a security company?

Verify state licensing and insurance, ask about officer training standards and turnover rates, and confirm the provider has experience in your property type. In New York City, ensure Fire Life Safety Director requirements are being met by certified personnel. Management accountability and staffing consistency matter as much as price.

What types of properties use private security services?

Private security serves commercial real estate, residential buildings, hospitals, schools, retail environments, construction sites, and government properties. Demand is growing across all of them.

The Bottom Line

Private security is a $49 billion industry in the United States, and it is not slowing down.

For businesses in New Jersey and New York, growth means more providers to choose from and a higher need to evaluate them carefully. Licensing, training standards, management accountability, and local expertise all matter. So does working with a company that has spent four decades building a reputation for exactly that.

Contact Building Security Services to discuss your property’s security needs.