First-line supervisors of security workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $55,940 | $26.90 |
| Mean (average) | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| 90th percentile | $92,260 | $44.35 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
First-line supervisors of security workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,440 | $33,190 | $94,380 | 850 | 0.77 |
| Alaska | $73,500 | $50,070 | $99,740 | 260 | 1.51 |
| Arizona | $59,650 | $39,360 | $79,440 | 1,550 | 0.91 |
| Arkansas | $54,000 | $33,570 | $102,770 | 970 | 1.42 |
| California | $53,960 | $38,490 | $89,800 | 10,850 | 1.14 |
| Colorado | $54,680 | $42,890 | $89,830 | 1,520 | 1.01 |
| Connecticut | $55,990 | $44,150 | $92,010 | 700 | 0.79 |
| Delaware | $62,840 | $43,000 | $89,460 | 180 | 0.72 |
| District of Columbia | $83,710 | $52,050 | $105,230 | 710 | 1.92 |
| Florida | $47,140 | $37,480 | $77,240 | 6,560 | 1.26 |
| Georgia | $49,400 | $34,660 | $91,270 | 2,540 | 0.99 |
| Guam | $42,550 | $21,270 | $85,340 | 90 | 2.45 |
| Hawaii | $59,080 | $36,730 | $79,490 | 590 | 1.79 |
| Idaho | $49,300 | $37,160 | $76,900 | 230 | 0.52 |
| Illinois | $59,540 | $38,820 | $95,020 | 2,370 | 0.74 |
| Indiana | $61,520 | $35,810 | $93,570 | 1,620 | 0.97 |
| Iowa | $46,560 | $37,080 | $79,560 | 390 | 0.48 |
| Kansas | $57,960 | $37,720 | $87,530 | 480 | 0.64 |
| Kentucky | $50,260 | $36,640 | $78,790 | 810 | 0.77 |
| Louisiana | $50,580 | $37,680 | $80,070 | 890 | 0.88 |
| Maine | $57,200 | $47,650 | $76,880 | 170 | 0.5 |
| Maryland | $63,690 | $37,840 | $105,190 | 1,640 | 1.13 |
| Massachusetts | $57,890 | $48,220 | $78,980 | 1,810 | 0.95 |
| Michigan | $54,500 | $38,460 | $77,350 | 1,940 | 0.84 |
| Minnesota | $58,540 | $46,450 | $95,370 | 1,260 | 0.82 |
| Mississippi | $43,410 | $28,900 | $71,260 | 670 | 1.1 |
| Missouri | $58,200 | $44,660 | $103,030 | 1,090 | 0.71 |
| Montana | $46,370 | $35,890 | $99,960 | 210 | 0.77 |
| Nebraska | $45,700 | $39,300 | $89,920 | 370 | 0.69 |
| Nevada | $53,210 | $35,970 | $82,940 | 2,540 | 3.12 |
| New Hampshire | $66,780 | $46,110 | $102,240 | 250 | 0.7 |
| New Jersey | $61,590 | $42,340 | $93,000 | 2,200 | 0.98 |
| New Mexico | $62,330 | $40,780 | $94,770 | 580 | 1.27 |
| New York | $59,890 | $44,750 | $96,610 | 7,050 | 1.39 |
| North Carolina | $57,390 | $34,800 | $85,230 | 2,730 | 1.05 |
| North Dakota | $57,720 | $39,690 | $85,650 | 100 | 0.44 |
| Ohio | $53,020 | $37,750 | $79,640 | 2,030 | 0.7 |
| Oklahoma | $51,400 | $36,970 | $80,050 | 1,480 | 1.65 |
| Oregon | $60,940 | $48,350 | $96,320 | 980 | 0.95 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,510 | $36,580 | $79,840 | 3,160 | 0.99 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,640 | $21,840 | $45,650 | 1,090 | 2.22 |
| Rhode Island | $51,090 | $46,710 | $85,050 | 250 | 0.96 |
| South Carolina | $47,100 | $35,280 | $80,390 | 770 | 0.64 |
| South Dakota | $57,880 | $40,130 | $93,590 | 80 | 0.35 |
| Tennessee | $50,830 | $37,480 | $100,350 | 1,850 | 1.08 |
| Texas | $46,740 | $23,940 | $89,960 | 6,490 | 0.88 |
| Utah | $56,290 | $44,880 | $81,190 | 380 | 0.42 |
| Vermont | $78,110 | $50,030 | $89,960 | 60 | 0.36 |
| Virgin Islands | $49,710 | $29,530 | $78,680 | 70 | 3.93 |
| Virginia | $60,790 | $42,440 | $99,820 | 2,120 | 0.98 |
| Washington | $62,510 | $46,730 | $98,540 | 1,800 | 0.97 |
| West Virginia | $45,850 | $30,850 | $65,750 | 390 | 1.06 |
| Wisconsin | $55,270 | $39,520 | $77,910 | 880 | 0.57 |
| Wyoming | $51,740 | $35,740 | $89,840 | 90 | 0.58 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for first-line supervisors of security workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for first-line supervisors of security workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Security and Loss Prevention Services CIP 43.0109
- Securities Services Administration/Management CIP 43.0112
- Homeland Security, Other CIP 43.0399
- Security Science and Technology, General CIP 43.0401
- Security Science and Technology, Other CIP 43.0499
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Monitor and authorize entry of employees, visitors, or other persons.
- Secure entrances and exits by locking doors and gates.
- Write reports documenting observations made while on patrol.
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Employee scheduling software
- Oracle software
- SAP business and customer relations management software
- Time and attendance software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Management of Personnel Resources, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management.
Common job titles: Campus Safety Chief, Public Safety Manager, Public Safety Supervisor, Security Chief, Security Director, Security Guard Supervisor, Security Lieutenant, Security Shift Supervisor, Security Supervisor, Shift Supervisor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do first-line supervisors of security workers make?
The national median annual wage for first-line supervisors of security workers was $55,940 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,300 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $92,260. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do first-line supervisors of security workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is first-line supervisors of security workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of security workers to change +3.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay first-line supervisors of security workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($83,710), Vermont ($78,110), Alaska ($73,500). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.