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Security Guards
Other names for this job might include Airline Security Representative, Airport Screener, Airport Security Screener, Alarm Investigator, Armed Guard, Armed Security Guard, Armored Car Driver, Armored Car Guard, Bag Checker, Baggage Inspector
- $28460Salary
- 53%Job satisfaction
- EasyBecoming one
- MediumJob growth
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Security Guards: Know It All In 1 Minute
Table of Contents
In this career summary, you will find out what the job of A Security Guard is about and what it is like.
After reading this, you will have a good idea on what the job is about and decide if this is the right career for you.
Job description
Security Guards guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
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Security Guards with little to no experience tend to make between $18350 and $20370 while the more experienced ones make over $33000 per year.
| Top 5 paying states | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| DC | $18.75 | $39010 |
| AK | $18.12 | $37690 |
| WA | $16.49 | $34310 |
| MN | $16.46 | $34230 |
| VA | $16.12 | $33530 |
1 of the easiest ways to increase your salary as A Security Guard is to move to a higher paying state like DC. Right now, the highest paying states for Security Guards are DC, AK, WA, MN and VA.
However a higher pay at DC doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at DC might be 2x higher than where you are currently at now.
3 other factors that can increase your salary as A Security Guard is the degree you hold, the industry you work in and lastly the company you work for (bigger companies like the Fortune 500 companies tend to pay more).
Requirements
We asked other Security Guards what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by No degree.
Other than that we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.
| No degree required |
Another popular question from our readers is what makes A Security Guard successful or would they be good in this career.
Well, we found that most successful Security Guards have these 5 skillsets.
| Active Listening |
| Speaking |
| Critical Thinking |
| Reading Comprehension |
| Monitoring |
In addition to that, 1 common characteristic among successful Security Guards is they are good at Self Control. Here are the top 5 common characteristics.
| Self Control |
| Stress Tolerance |
| Persistence |
| Initiative |
| Dependability |
Pros and Cons
Here are some reasons why you should and shouldn’t choose A Security Guard as your career.
| PROS |
|---|
| Suitable for people who likes practical and handson work |
| Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment |
| This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors. |
| It is easy to get into this career. Some previous workrelated skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career. |
| Normal working hours (40 hours per week) |
| CONS |
|---|
| Not suitable for people who likes to work with designs |
| One of the lowest paying jobs |
There will be pros and cons for all jobs. The point is how much do the pros outweigh the cons to you.
A pro to you might be a con to Bob. A pro to Bob might be a con to you. We suggest reading about this career framework that can help you to find out what type of careers are right for you.
What is the job like
On a normal working week Security Guards work 40 hours per week.
53% of Security Guards said they were satisfied with their job and 49% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.
Is this right for me
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the careers require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
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Related to Security Guards Career Information
Security Guards job description, Security Guards salary, Security Guards information, what is the job of a Security Guard like, pros and cons about Security Guards, colleges and universities for Security Guards, is Security Guards the right career for me, Easy careers to get into, careers in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement
Additional resources
http://www.bls.gov/OOH/protective-service/security-guards.htmhttp://www.dhs.gov/
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