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The security guard industry is one of the largest employment sectors in protective services, with over 1.2 million guards working across the United States. This comprehensive guide covers the latest employment figures, salary data, industry breakdown, workforce demographics, and market trends shaping the security guard profession in 2026.
The security guard profession is one of the largest occupational categories in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (2024):
To put this number in perspective, there are more security guards in America than there are registered nurses in any single state, more than all the firefighters in the country, and roughly equivalent to the entire population of Dallas, Texas.
The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2023) breaks down where these guards work:
| Industry Sector | Guards Employed | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation & Security Services | 735,430 | 73.69% |
| General Merchandise Retail | 44,640 | 4.47% |
| Educational Services | Major employer | — |
| Hospitals & Healthcare | Major employer | — |
| Government | Major employer | — |
| Bars & Nightclubs | 18,200 | 4.42%* |
*Percentage of industry total per Belfry analysis of BLS data (2023).
The dominance of the investigation and security services sector — accounting for nearly three-quarters of all security guard employment — reflects the industry's heavy reliance on contract security providers. Companies like BSS that provide professional security guard services to businesses and institutions make up the backbone of this sector.
Compensation in the security guard industry varies significantly by location, experience, specialization, and employer type. Here are the national benchmarks from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024):
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Median annual wage (security guards) | $38,370 |
| Median hourly wage (security guards) | $18.46 |
| Median annual wage (gambling surveillance officers) | $43,900 |
| Median for all protective service occupations | $50,580 |
| Median for all U.S. occupations | $49,500 |
The gap between the security guard median ($38,370) and the overall protective services median ($50,580) — a difference of $12,210 per year — reflects the wide range within protective services, which also includes police officers, detectives, and firefighters. However, within the private security sector specifically, guards with specialized training, certifications, and experience can earn significantly above the median.
Security guard compensation must be understood in the context of the overall labor market. The national median for all occupations sits at $49,500/year (BLS, 2024), placing the typical security guard salary about 22% below the national median. This reflects the entry-level education requirements and the high volume of positions available.
However, wages vary dramatically by market. Guards working in metropolitan areas — particularly in high-cost cities like New York — command significantly higher pay, as detailed in the next section.
For security professionals working in the New York City and New Jersey metro area, wages reflect the higher cost of living and greater demand for skilled security personnel. According to multiple sources:
| Source | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| CareerExplorer / BLS (2024) | $37,770 | — |
| Talent.com (2025) | $37,440 | $18.95 |
| Indeed (2025) | — | $19.35 |
The NYC salary range extends from approximately $29,260 to $60,160 depending on experience, certifications, and assignment type (CareerExplorer/BLS). For context, the average hourly wage across all occupations in the NYC area is $40.65 — significantly higher than the national average of $32.66 — according to the BLS Northeast Regional Office (May 2024).
Security guards in the NYC metro area who obtain specialized certifications, work armed positions, or take on supervisory roles can push well into the upper end of this range. BSS is committed to competitive compensation for our security professionals — learn more about career opportunities with our team.
"The security guard workforce in New York is unique. Our guards need to navigate everything from high-rise office buildings to construction sites to retail environments — often in the same week. That versatility commands a premium, and the best security companies invest in training and retention because they know that experienced, well-compensated guards deliver dramatically better outcomes for clients."
— Amanda DeAlmeida, Executive Vice President, Building Security Services
The U.S. security services industry is a multi-billion-dollar market that continues to grow. Here are the key market size figures from leading research firms:
| Market Segment | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. security services industry (2026) | $49.1 billion | IBISWorld |
| U.S. security guards & patrol services | $36.6 billion | Kentley Insights (2025) |
| Global security services (2025) | $101.3 billion | Fact.MR |
| Global manned guarding (2026) | $64.44 billion | The Business Research Company |
| Physical security market (projected 2026) | $140 billion | Gitnux (2025) |
The global security services market is projected to grow from $101.3 billion in 2025 to $154.3 billion by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% according to Fact.MR. Within the manned guarding segment specifically, growth is even more robust — the global manned guarding market grew from $57.96 billion in 2025 to a projected $64.44 billion in 2026, per The Business Research Company.
Looking at the U.S. specifically, the security services industry has shown consistent scale. According to Belfry's analysis of Robert H. Perry & Associates data, the U.S. industry reached $48 billion by 2017, peaked at $50.08 billion in 2018, and settled at approximately $47.8 billion by 2023 before its current rebound to the $49.1 billion level.
One of the most significant structural trends in the security industry is the shift toward outsourced, contract security services. According to Statista data compiled by Belfry:
This trend reflects a fundamental shift in how businesses approach security. Rather than maintaining in-house security departments — with all the associated hiring, training, benefits, and management overhead — organizations increasingly partner with professional security companies that can provide trained, vetted, and managed personnel on demand.
The advantages of contract security include:
BSS provides contract security guard services across the NYC and New Jersey metro area, serving commercial properties, construction sites, retail locations, healthcare facilities, and events.
Security guards work across virtually every sector of the economy. The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2023) data shows the concentration of employment:
The diversity of industries employing security guards reflects the universal need for physical security across the economy. Every sector faces unique threats — from shoplifting in retail to workplace violence in healthcare to theft at construction sites — and each requires guards with specialized training and knowledge.
Certain sectors face particularly acute security challenges that drive demand for professional security personnel:
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects the following for security guards through 2034:
These numbers may seem contradictory at first glance: how can an industry with 0% growth still generate 162,000+ openings every year? The answer lies in the industry's defining challenge — turnover.
The security guard industry is characterized by extremely high turnover rates. Guards leave their positions for higher-paying jobs, more desirable schedules, career advancement into law enforcement or other fields, or because of the demanding nature of the work (long hours, overnight shifts, high-stress environments).
This turnover creates a constant need for recruitment, hiring, and training — which is precisely why working with a professional security provider matters. Companies like BSS invest heavily in guard retention programs, competitive pay, ongoing training, and clear advancement pathways to reduce turnover and deliver consistent, reliable security staffing to clients.
The 0% growth projection partially reflects the increasing role of technology in security. Autonomous surveillance systems, AI-powered monitoring, and robotic security patrols are supplementing — though not yet replacing — human security guards. For the foreseeable future, the industry consensus is that technology enhances rather than replaces human security professionals, especially for roles requiring judgment, de-escalation, customer interaction, and physical response capabilities.
According to industry analysis from Belfry (2025) and multiple market research firms, the primary growth drivers for the security guard industry include:
The Cognitive Market Research (2025) projects the global security guard market to grow at a CAGR of 8.10% from 2023 to 2030, reflecting robust global demand.
The security guard industry faces a distinctive set of workforce challenges that shape how the best companies operate:
With 162,300 annual openings but near-zero net growth, the industry is essentially replacing its entire workforce every eight years. This creates intense competition for quality candidates. The most successful security companies differentiate themselves through:
Security guards themselves face significant occupational hazards. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, protective service occupations recorded 121 workplace homicides in 2022 — the highest of any occupational group. This sobering statistic underscores the importance of proper training, equipment, protocols, and employer support for security professionals.
"Our guards are not just employees — they're professionals who put themselves on the line every day. We owe them proper training, fair compensation, reliable equipment, and a company culture that prioritizes their safety. When you take care of your people, they take care of your clients. That's what separates a professional security operation from a staffing agency with uniforms."
— Amanda DeAlmeida, Executive Vice President, Building Security Services
New York City's security guard workforce has its own unique characteristics. A UC Berkeley Labor Center study (2025) examined the demographic and job characteristics of NYC's security guard workforce, highlighting the diversity and complexity of this essential labor force.
Guards in the NYC/NJ metro area benefit from higher wages than the national average — approximately $37,440–$37,770/year compared to the national median of $38,370 — though this varies significantly by assignment type, experience level, and whether the position is armed or unarmed. Top earners in the NYC market reach $60,160 and above according to CareerExplorer/BLS data.
Building Security Services provides trained, professional security guards for commercial properties, retail locations, construction sites, healthcare facilities, schools, and events across the New York and New Jersey metro area.
Whether you need a single guard or a full security team, BSS delivers reliable, professional service backed by decades of experience.
Request a Free Consultation →All statistics cited on this page are drawn from verified, authoritative sources including federal agencies, market research firms, and recognized industry publications. We prioritize primary data sources and note the publication year for each data point. Key sources include:
Methodology note: This page compiles statistics from multiple authoritative sources to provide a comprehensive overview of security guard employment and industry economics. Where wage data varies between sources (e.g., BLS, Indeed, Talent.com), we present multiple data points to reflect the range. Market size figures from different research firms may use varying definitions and methodologies, which accounts for some discrepancies between estimates. All data is presented with source attribution and publication year for transparency.
This page is maintained by Building Security Services (BSS) and is updated periodically as new data becomes available. For questions about our security services or to discuss your security needs, please contact us.
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