The median pay for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers is $55,940 a year ($26.90/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.7% through 2035, with about 6,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 33-1091
- Protective Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers in four numbers
- Median pay
- $55,940a year, or $26.90/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $92K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.7%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6,80082,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202582.7K
- Projected 203585.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 82.7K Projected 2035 85.7K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school27.7%
- Certificate5%
- Some college26.1%
- Associate's29.8%
- Bachelor's11.4%
Highest education held by first-line supervisors of security workers Segment Value High school 27.7% Certificate 5% Some college 26.1% Associate's 29.8% Bachelor's 11.4%
Also advertised as: Campus Safety Chief, Public Safety Manager, Public Safety Supervisor, Security Chief, Security Director, Security Guard Supervisor.
Pay
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers make?
Every first-line supervisor of security workers in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$55,940
Middle half earn $45,030 to $71,950
- 10th
- $37,300
- 25th
- $45,030
- 75th
- $71,950
- 90th
- $92,260
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,300 |
| 25th | $45,030 |
| Median | $55,940 |
| 75th | $71,950 |
| 90th | $92,260 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $55,940
- Median hourly wage
- $26.90/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $59,900
- People employed
- 81,480
Versus all US occupations
At $55,940, First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers earn 10% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,960 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
Inside the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $74,060, this is 24% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $92,260 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,300, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 28% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($83,710), but once local prices are taken into account Vermont leads at $79,738 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $83,710 | $76,169 | 710 |
| 2Vermont | $78,110 | $79,738 | 60 |
| 3Alaska | $73,500 | $71,806 | 260 |
| 4New Hampshire | $66,780 | $64,110 | 250 |
| 5Maryland | $63,690 | $60,681 | 1,640 |
| 6Delaware | $62,840 | $62,961 | 180 |
| 7Washington | $62,510 | $58,413 | 1,800 |
| 8New Mexico | $62,330 | $67,594 | 580 |
| 9New Jersey | $61,590 | $56,606 | 2,200 |
| 10Indiana | $61,520 | $65,917 | 1,620 |
Job outlook
Is First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | +3.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,000 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 6,800 openings are projected each year, 8.2% of the 82,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as first-line supervisors of security workers.
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree29.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)27.7%
- Some College Courses26.1%
- Bachelor's Degree11.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 29.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 27.7% |
| Some College Courses | 26.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 11.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers do?
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor the behavior of security employees to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines, or procedures.
- Assign security personnel to posts or patrols.
- Explain company policies and procedures to staff using oral or written communication.
- Investigate disturbances on the premises, such as security alarms, altercations, and suspicious activity.
- Monitor and authorize entry of employees, visitors, or other persons.
- Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire, bomb threats, and presence of unauthorized persons.
- Advise employees in handling problems or resolving complaints from customers, tenants, detainees, or other persons.
- Train security personnel on protective procedures, first aid, fire safety, and other duties.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Monitoring3.8
- Writing3.6
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Management of Personnel Resources3.8
- Social Perceptiveness3.6
- Coordination3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Time Management3.6
- Persuasion3.3
- Instructing3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Time accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.0
- Conventional5.1
- Realistic4.4
- Social3.6
- Investigative1.8
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers
O*NET related occupations
- Management
- Office and Administrative Support
First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers
$69,500median a year
Most earn $46K to $105K
+0.1%High school - Business and Financial Operations
- Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
First-Line Supervisor of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
$49,100median a year
Most earn $36K to $76K
+3.2%High school - Protective Service
- Protective Service
First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers
$77,970median a year
Most earn $52K to $128K
−2.5%High school
- First-Line Supervisor of Passenger Attendants · $62,840 median
- First-Line Supervisor of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators · $62,840 median
More protective service careers
Median annual pay, with first-line supervisors of security workers highlighted
- Detective and Criminal Investigator$93,790
- Intelligence Analyst$93,790
- Police Officer$76,210
- Custom and Border Protection Officer$76,210
- Firefighter$59,280
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,940
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers$55,940
- Private Detective and Investigator$51,220
- Security Guard$38,020
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 |
| Intelligence Analyst | $93,790 |
| Police Officer | $76,210 |
| Custom and Border Protection Officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 |
| First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers | $55,940 |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers appears on
Questions
First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers: frequently asked questions
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers make?
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers earn a median of $55,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 10% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $26.90/hr. The middle half earn between $45,030 and $71,950. The top 10% earn $92,260 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 29.8% hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree.
Is First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 6,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers do?
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards. A core O*NET task: monitor the behavior of security employees to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines, or procedures. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers the most?
The highest state medians for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers are District of Columbia ($83,710), Vermont ($78,110), Alaska ($73,500) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Vermont moves to the top at $79,738.
What personality type suits a First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers?
O*NET scores First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.