Security Officers: Occupational Employment and Wages
Percentile wage estimates for Security Officers:
· 10%
· Hourly Wage — $ 11.55
· Annual Wage (2)— $ 24,020
· 25%
· Hourly Wage — $ 13.88
· Annual Wage (2)— $ 28,86
· 50% (Median)
· Hourly Wage — $ 16.71
· Annual Wage (2)— $ 34,750
· 75%
· Hourly Wage — $ 18.96
· Annual Wage (2)— $ 39,440
· 90%
· Hourly Wage
· Annual Wage (2)
I. Industry profile for Security Officers
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Security Officers:
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Security Officers
Industry
Investigation and Security Services
· Employment (1) — 690,810
· Percent of industry employment — 72.83
· Hourly mean wage — $16.67
· Annual mean wage (2) — $34,660
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
· Employment (1) — 42,610
· Percent of industry employment — 0.76
· Hourly mean wage — $19.83
· Annual mean wage (2) — $41,240
Elementary and Secondary Schools
· Employment (1) — 40,190
· Percent of industry employment — 0.48
· Hourly mean wage — $19.96
· Annual mean wage (2) — $41,520
· Employment (1) — 31,750
· Percent of industry employment — 1.88
· Hourly mean wage — $18.16
· Annual mean wage (2) — $37,780
· Employment (1) — 26,730
· Percent of industry employment — 0.83
· Hourly mean wage — $15.87
· Annual mean wage (2) — $33,020
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Security Officers
Industry
Investigation and Security Services
· Employment (1) — 690,810
· Percent of industry employment — 72.83
· Hourly mean wage — $16.67
· Annual mean wage (2) — $34,660
· Employment (1) — 13,530
· Percent of industry employment – 6.71
· Hourly mean wage — $16.45
· Annual mean wage (2) — $34,210
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
· Employment (1) — 1,180
· Percent of industry employment — 5.62
· Hourly mean wage —$30.44
· Annual mean wage (2) — $63,310
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events
· Employment (1) — 7,490
· Percent of industry employment — 5.38
· Hourly mean wage — $19.31
· Annual mean wage (2) — $40,160
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
· Employment (1) — 15,460
· Percent of industry employment — 3.92
· Hourly mean wage — $14.31
· Annual mean wage (2) — $29,760
Top paying industries for Security Officers
Industry
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
· Employment (1) — 80
· Percent of industry employment — 0.07
· Hourly mean wage — $42.95
· Annual mean wage (2) — $89,330
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers
· Employment (1) — 580
· Percent of industry employment — 0.47
· Hourly mean wage — $34.94
· Annual mean wage (2) — $72,680
Scientific Research and Development Services
· Employment (1) — 1,680
· Percent of industry employment — 0.19
· Hourly mean wage — $31.26
· Annual mean wage (2) — $65,020
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
· Employment (1) — 1,180
· Percent of industry employment — 5.62
· Hourly mean wage — $30.44
· Annual mean wage (2) — $63,310
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
· Employment (1) — 3,960
· Percent of industry employment — 1.05
· Hourly mean wage — $29.97
· Annual mean wage (2) – $62,330
II. Geographic profile for Security Officers
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Security Officers are provided.
States with the highest employment level in Security Officers
California
Employment (1)– 166,660
Employment per thousand jobs — 9.45
Location quotient (9)– 1.24
Hourly mean wage — $18.81
Annual mean wage (2)– $39.12
Employment (1)– 115,130
Employment per thousand jobs –12.64
Location quotient (9)–1.66
Hourly mean wage – $20.05
Annual mean wage (2)— $41,690
Employment (1)– 91,180
Employment per thousand jobs — 7.02
Location quotient (9)– 0.92
Hourly mean wage — $16.18
Annual mean wage (2)— $33,650
Employment (1)– 86,890
Employment per thousand jobs – 9.43
Location quotient (9)– 1.24
Hourly mean wage — $15.70
Annual mean wage (2)– $32,65
Employment (1)– 46,510
Employment per thousand jobs – 7.90
Location quotient (9)– 1.04
Hourly mean wage - $17.87
Annual mean wage (2)— $37,160
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Security Officers
District of Columbia
Employment (1)– 14,440
Employment per thousand jobs – 20.92
Location quotient (9)– 2.75
Hourly mean wage — $25.45
Annual mean wage (2)— $52,940
Employment (1)– 9,100
Employment per thousand jobs – 15.30
Location quotient (9)– 2.01
Hourly mean wage — $17.45
Annual mean wage (2)— $36,300
Employment (1)– 19,310
Employment per thousand jobs – 13.68
Location quotient (9)– 1.80
Hourly mean wage — $15.19
Annual mean wage (2)—$31,600
Employment (1)– 115,130
Employment per thousand jobs – 12.64
Location quotient (9)– 1.66
Hourly mean wage — $20.05
Annual mean wage (2)—$41,690
Employment (1)– 166,660
Employment per thousand jobs – 9.45
Location quotient (9)– 1.24
Hourly mean wage — $18.81
Annual mean wage (2)— $39,120
Top paying states for Security Officers
District of Columbia
Employment (1)– 14,440
Employment per thousand jobs – 20.92
Location quotient (9)– 2.75
Hourly mean wage — $25.45
Annual mean wage (2)— $52,940
Employment (1)– 24,790
Employment per thousand jobs – 9.39
Location quotient (9)– 1.23
Hourly mean wage — $21.19
Annual mean wage (2)—$44,070
Employment (1)– 2,350
Employment per thousand jobs – 7.67
Location quotient (9)– 1.01
Hourly mean wage — $21.04
Annual mean wage (2)–$43,750
Employment (1)– 22,540
Employment per thousand jobs – 6.62
Location quotient (9)– 0.87
Hourly mean wage — $21.03
Annual mean wage (2)—$43,750
Employment (1)– 115,130
Employment per thousand jobs – 12.64
Location quotient (9)– 1.66
Hourly mean wage — $20.,05
Annual mean wage (2)—$41,690
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Security Officers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
Employment (1)– 124,250
Employment per thousand jobs – 13.53
Location quotient (9)– 1.508
Hourly mean wage — $19.89
Annual mean wage (2)—$41,370
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Employment (1)– 69,640
Employment per thousand jobs – 11.42
Location quotient (9)– 1.50
Hourly mean wage — $18.19
Annual mean wage (2)—$37,840
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
Employment (1)– 41,670
Employment per thousand jobs – 9.44
Location quotient (9)– 1.24
Hourly mean wage — $17.98
Annual mean wage (2)—$37,400
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Employment (1)– 39,500
Employment per thousand jobs – 15.06
Location quotient (9)– 1.98
Hourly mean wage — $16.16
Annual mean wage (2)—$33,610
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Employment (1)– 38,130
Employment per thousand jobs – 12.59
Location quotient (9)– 1.66
Hourly mean wage — $23.65
Annual mean wage (2)—$49,190
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Employment (1)– 30,110
Employment per thousand jobs – 12.59
Location quotient (9)– 7.91
Hourly mean wage — $16.99
Annual mean wage (2)—$35,340
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
Employment (1)– 26,420
Employment per thousand jobs – 8.65
Location quotient (9)– 1.14
Hourly mean wage — $15.78
Annual mean wage (2)—$32,830
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Employment (1)– 24,310
Employment per thousand jobs – 8.78
Location quotient (9)– 1.15
Hourly mean wage — $18.05
Annual mean wage (2)—$37,550
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
Employment (1)– 23,230
Employment per thousand jobs – 9.71
Location quotient (9)– 1.28
Hourly mean wage — $21.09
Annual mean wage (2)—$43,870
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Employment (1)– 21,490
Employment per thousand jobs – 7.88
Location quotient (9)– 1.04
Hourly mean wage — $16.02
Annual mean wage (2)—$33,320
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Security Officers
Employment (1)– 3,300
Employment per thousand jobs – 32.88
Location quotient (9)– 4.32
Hourly mean wage — $11.38
Annual mean wage (2)—$23,670
Employment (1)– 2,590
Employment per thousand jobs – 19.98
Location quotient (9)– 2.63
Hourly mean wage — $14.37
Annual mean wage (2)—$29,900
Employment (1)– 2,400
Employment per thousand jobs – 19.37
Location quotient (9)– 2.55
Hourly mean wage — $16.55
Annual mean wage (2)—$34,430
Employment (1)– 7,640
Employment per thousand jobs – 18.05
Location quotient (9)– 2.37
Hourly mean wage — $17.09
Annual mean wage (2)—$35,560
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
Employment (1)– 17,150
Employment per thousand jobs – 16.74
Location quotient (9)– 2.20
Hourly mean wage — $15.06
Annual mean wage (2)—$31,330
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Employment (1)– 39,500
Employment per thousand jobs – 15.06
Location quotient (9)– 1.98
Hourly mean wage — $16.16
Annual mean wage (2)—$33,610
Employment (1)– 3,560
Employment per thousand jobs – 14.39
Location quotient (9)– 1.89
Hourly mean wage — $12.71
Annual mean wage (2)—$26,430
Employment (1)– 790
Employment per thousand jobs – 13.53
Location quotient (9)– 1.78
Hourly mean wage — $17.03
Annual mean wage (2)—$35,420
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
Employment (1)– 124,250
Employment per thousand jobs – 13.53
Location quotient (9)– 1.78
Hourly mean wage — $19.89
Annual mean wage (2)—$41,370
Employment (1)– 590
Employment per thousand jobs – 13.04
Location quotient (9)– 1.71
Hourly mean wage — $12.30
Annual mean wage (2)—$25,590
Top paying metropolitan areas for Security Officers
Kennewick-Richland, WA
Employment (1)– 790
Employment per thousand jobs – 6.45
Location quotient (9)– 0.85
Hourly mean wage — $33.73
Annual mean wage (2)—$70,170
Employment (1)– 480
Employment per thousand jobs – 6.34
Location quotient (9)– 0.83
Hourly mean wage — $33.22
Annual mean wage (2)—$69,100
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
Employment (1)– 670
Employment per thousand jobs – 5.66
Location quotient (9)– 0.74
Hourly mean wage — $24.84
Annual mean wage (2)—$51,670
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Employment (1)– 38,130
Employment per thousand jobs – 12.59
Location quotient (9)– 1.66
Hourly mean wage — $23.65
Annual mean wage (2)—$49,190
Employment (1)– 360
Employment per thousand jobs – 3.62
Location quotient (9)– 0.48
Hourly mean wage — $23.21
Annual mean wage (2)—$48,280
Employment (1)– 40
Employment per thousand jobs – 1.58
Location quotient (9)– 0.21
Hourly mean wage — $22.53
Annual mean wage (2)—$46,860
Employment (1)– 140
Employment per thousand jobs – 4.01
Location quotient (9)– 0.53
Hourly mean wage — $21.87
Annual mean wage (2)—$45,490
Employment (1)– 1,920
Employment per thousand jobs – 6.68
Location quotient (9)– 0.88
Hourly mean wage — $21.85
Annual mean wage (2)—$45,440
Employment (1)– 370
Employment per thousand jobs – 1.95
Location quotient (9)– 0.26
Hourly mean wage — $21.46
Annual mean wage (2)—$44,630
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Employment (1)– 9,090
Employment per thousand jobs – 8.09
Location quotient (9)– 1.06
Hourly mean wage — $21.24
Annual mean wage (2)—$44,180
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Security Officers
Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 1,680
Employment per thousand jobs – 13.15
Location quotient (9)– 1.73
Hourly mean wage — $13.58
Annual mean wage (2)—$28,250
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 1,320
Employment per thousand jobs – 5.83
Location quotient (9)– 0.77
Hourly mean wage — $13.43
Annual mean wage (2)—$27,930
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous)
Employment (1)– 1,260
Employment per thousand jobs – 3.90
Location quotient (9)– 0.51
Hourly mean wage — $21.48
Annual mean wage (2)—$44,6980
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 1,220
Employment per thousand jobs – 7.37
Location quotient (9)– 0.97
Hourly mean wage — $13.94
Annual mean wage (2)—$29,000
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 1,170
Employment per thousand jobs – 6.91
Location quotient (9)– 0.91
Hourly mean wage — $16.47
Annual mean wage (2)—$34,270
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Security Officers
Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 1,680
Employment per thousand jobs – 13.15
Location quotient (9)– 1.73
Hourly mean wage — $13.58
Annual mean wage (2)—$28,250
Employment (1)– 960
Employment per thousand jobs – 10.42
Location quotient (9)– 1.37
Hourly mean wage — $16.67
Annual mean wage (2)—$34,670
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 650
Employment per thousand jobs – 9.39
Location quotient (9)– 1.23
Hourly mean wage — $15.87
Annual mean wage (2)—$33,010
Employment (1)– 870
Employment per thousand jobs – 8.55
Location quotient (9)– 1.12
Hourly mean wage — $21.32
Annual mean wage (2)—$44,350
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 800
Employment per thousand jobs – 8.16
Location quotient (9)– 1.07
Hourly mean wage — $18.10
Annual mean wage (2)—$37,640
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Security Officers
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 860
Employment per thousand jobs – 6.90
Location quotient (9)– 0.91
Hourly mean wage — $28.68
Annual mean wage (2)—$59,650
North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 470
Employment per thousand jobs – 4.19
Location quotient (9)– 0.55
Hourly mean wage — $24.82
Annual mean wage (2)—$51,630
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 260
Employment per thousand jobs – 2.61
Location quotient (9)– 0.34
Hourly mean wage — $23.27
Annual mean wage (2)—$48,410
Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area
Employment (1)– 330
Employment per thousand jobs – 5.17
Location quotient (9)– 0.68
Hourly mean wage — $22.72
Annual mean wage (2)—$47,250
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous)
Employment (1)– 1,260
Employment per thousand jobs – 3.90
Location quotient (9)– 0.51
Hourly mean wage — $21.48
Annual mean wage (2)—$44,680
Methodology
The estimates above are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a “year-round, full-time” hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
