First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards.
Also called: Campus Safety Chief · Public Safety Manager · Public Safety Supervisor · Security Chief · Security Director · Security Guard Supervisor
Median pay (national)
$58,610
$37,800–$93,930 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
70,310
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.7%
~7,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for first-line supervisors of security workers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $93,930 versus $37,800 at the bottom 10% — 2.5x. The median of $58,610 leaves roughly 60% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.7% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 7,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Minnesota pays the most for this role (median $83,110, +42% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $22,350 — a 272% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Secure entrances and exits by locking doors and gates.
- Monitor the behavior of security employees to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines, or procedures.
- Advise employees in handling problems or resolving complaints from customers, tenants, detainees, or other persons.
- Recruit, interview, and hire security personnel.
- Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire, bomb threats, and presence of unauthorized persons.
- Apprehend or evict trespassers, rule violators, or other security threats from the premises.
- Screen individuals and belongings to prevent passage of prohibited materials using walkthrough detectors, wands, or bag searches.
- Monitor closed-circuit television cameras.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Office software
- Employee scheduling software
- Oracle software
- SAP business and customer relations management software
- Time and attendance software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Administrative
- Education and Training