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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Security guards

Security guard pointing and talking into handheld radio Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

Table 1. Percentage of security guards with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	27.8	72.2
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	4.7	95.3
Working around crowds	9.6	90.4
Telework routinely allowed	<0.5	>99.5
Supervising others	<0.5	>99.5
Supervisor present in immediate work area	13.9	86.1
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 10.8 percent of security guards and on-the-job training was required for greater than 99.5 percent.

A high school diploma was required for 87.4 percent of security guards.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 1.8 percent of security guards. Another 94.6 percent were exposed to moderate noise, 3.6 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 95 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of security guards and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For 1.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 91.7 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 6.8 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 39.2 percent of security guards and was not required for 60.8 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 0.9 percent of security guards. On average, workers spent 38.1 percent of the workday sitting and 61.9 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of security guards with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	0.9	99.1
Driving	58.0	42.0
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	66.0	34.0
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey