First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Career Overview

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards.

Also Known As

• Security Director
• Security Shift Supervisor
• Security Supervisor
• Shift Supervisor

Alternate Job Titles

• Armed Security Supervisor
• Armed Site Supervisor
• Campus Safety Chief
• Guard Captain
• Guard Chief
• Guard Supervisor
• Internal Security Manager
• Loss Prevention Supervisor
• Officer Sergeant
• Protection Supervisor
• Public Safety Manager
• Public Safety Supervisor
• Safety Supervisor
• Security Chief
• Security Department Supervisor

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• 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.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• Public Safety and Security
• Administration and Management
• Customer and Personal Service
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Law and Government
• English Language
• Administrative
• Education and Training
• Computers and Electronics
• Psychology

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Active Listening
2. Reading Comprehension
3. Speaking
4. Critical Thinking
5. Judgment and Decision Making
6. Monitoring
7. Management of Personnel Resources
8. Writing
9. Social Perceptiveness
10. Coordination

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Inductive Reasoning
• Speech Recognition
• Far Vision
• Near Vision
• Deductive Reasoning
• Written Comprehension
• Flexibility of Closure

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Integrity
• Dependability
• Leadership Orientation
• Cautiousness
• Self-Control

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word

Work Environment

• Contact With Others
• Telephone Conversations
• E-Mail
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
• Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$37,800
Median	$58,610
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$93,930

Workers Employed Nationally: 70,310

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.