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Security director: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$55,940median pay per year, or $26.90 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,300lowest 10% earn less
  2. $45,03025th percentile
  3. $55,940median
  4. $71,95075th percentile
  5. $92,260top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

People in security director and supervisor jobs, which BLS calls First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers, had a median pay of $55,940 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.7% over ten years, a little faster than the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.7%[2]
Openings per year
6,800[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do security directors make?

The median pay for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers was $55,940 a year, or $26.90 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $59,900 a year, or $28.80 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,300, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $45,030[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $71,950, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $92,260[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $17.93 and the 90th percentile was $44.35[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, including part-time ones. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and employer costs of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 81,480 people held these jobs[12].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median pay at $83,710, followed by Vermont at $78,110 and Alaska at $73,500[13]. Mississippi was last on the list at $43,410[13].

California had the most jobs with 10,850, then New York with 7,050, Florida with 6,560, Texas with 6,490 and Pennsylvania with 3,160[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Chattanooga, TN-GA had the highest median at $100,340[15]. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR came next at $82,010, then Anchorage, AK at $73,500[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs with 7,310 and a median of $59,890[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[13]$83,710710
Vermont$78,11060
Alaska$73,500260
New Hampshire$66,780250
Maryland$63,6901,640
Delaware$62,840180
Washington$62,5101,800
New Mexico$62,330580
New Jersey$61,5902,200
Indiana$61,5201,620
Oregon$60,940980
Virginia$60,7902,120
New York$59,8907,050
Arizona$59,6501,550
Illinois$59,5402,370
Hawaii$59,080590
Minnesota$58,5401,260
Missouri$58,2001,090
Kansas$57,960480
Massachusetts$57,8901,810
South Dakota$57,88080
North Dakota$57,720100
North Carolina$57,3902,730
Maine$57,200170
Utah$56,290380
Connecticut$55,990700
Wisconsin$55,270880
Colorado$54,6801,520
Michigan$54,5001,940
Arkansas$54,000970
California$53,96010,850
Nevada$53,2102,540
Ohio$53,0202,030
Wyoming$51,74090
Oklahoma$51,4001,480
Rhode Island$51,090250
Tennessee$50,8301,850
Louisiana$50,580890
Kentucky$50,260810
Georgia$49,4002,540
Idaho$49,300230
Pennsylvania$47,5103,160
Alabama$47,440850
Florida$47,1406,560
South Carolina$47,100770
Texas$46,7406,490
Iowa$46,560390
Montana$46,370210
West Virginia$45,850390
Nebraska$45,700370
Mississippi$43,410670

How to become a security director

BLS describes the typical path into this occupation like this:

In an O*NET survey of 26 workers, 30% said an associate's degree was required, 28% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 26% said some college courses and 11% said a bachelor's degree[17]. The survey is small, so treat it as a rough picture only.

What security directors do

O*NET says these workers directly supervise and coordinate security workers and guards[18]. Common tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include Security Chief, Security Director, Security Shift Supervisor and Public Safety Manager[20].

Job outlook

BLS projects jobs to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 82,700 to 85,700[2]. All occupations together are projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include the self-employed, who made up 1% of these supervisors in 2025[21].

BLS expects about 6,800 openings a year[6]. They include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year 2.8% of workers leave the labor force and 4.9% move to a different occupation[22].

One factor works against growth. BLS says fewer security guards need proportionately fewer first-line supervisors[23].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and the entry path asks for a high school diploma plus some related experience[1][5][7]. Pay spreads widely, so location and employer matter[4][13]. Growth is near the average, with a steady stream of openings[2][3][6]. BLS says fewer security guards need proportionately fewer first-line supervisors[23].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a security director make a year?
The median pay for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers was $55,940 a year in May 2025, and the average was $59,900[1][8].
How much does a security supervisor make an hour?
The median was $26.90 an hour and the average was $28.80 an hour[1][8].
What education do you need to be a security director?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with less than 5 years of related work experience[7].
Is the security supervisor field growing?
BLS projects 3.7% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
Which state pays security directors the most?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $83,710[13]. Vermont was next at $78,110[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers in the US was $55,940 per year and $26.90 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers is projected to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 82,700 to 85,700 jobs (a change of +3,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: 10th percentile $37,300, 25th percentile $45,030, 75th percentile $71,950, 90th percentile $92,260. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,800 openings for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers was $59,900 per year and $28.80 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: 10th percentile $17.93, 25th percentile $21.65, 75th percentile $34.59, 90th percentile $44.35. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 81,480 people were employed as First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers jobs: California 10,850; New York 7,050; Florida 6,560; Texas 6,490; Pennsylvania 3,160. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Chattanooga, TN-GA $100,340; Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $82,010; Anchorage, AK $73,500; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $73,490; Syracuse, NY $71,650; Rochester, NY $66,140; Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $65,060; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $64,000. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,310 (median $59,890); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,240 (median $49,900); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 2,900 (median $47,720); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,400 (median $73,490); Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV 2,240 (median $53,160); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,160 (median $46,910). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 33-1091.00 survey of workers (26 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 30%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 28%, Some College Courses 26%, Bachelor's Degree 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 33-1091.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Campus Safety Chief, Public Safety Manager, Public Safety Supervisor, Security Chief, Security Director, Security Guard Supervisor, Security Lieutenant, Security Shift Supervisor. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections: 1% of First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: 2.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: Demand change - share decreases as fewer security guards require proportionately fewer first-line supervisors. BLS Employment Projections
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.