# Security Guards

US SOC code 33-9032. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/33-9032

Also called: Security officer, Unarmed security guard, Armed security guard, Loss prevention officer, Site security officer.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **1,283,470** US security guards, with median pay of **$38,020** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2012, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://pinkerton.com/our-story) of **35,000** from 1900, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for security guards: Knightscope K5 + Cobalt Robotics, 2016 to 2024.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to change +0.9% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=33-9032&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **25%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)
- **0.84** estimated probability that the whole occupation could be computerised, over an unspecified number of years. Not a forecast of job losses. [Frey and Osborne, 2013](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf)

### Since the 2013 prediction

In 2013, Frey and Osborne put this job's probability of computerisation at 0.84. BLS counted **1,066,730** of these jobs in May 2013 and **1,283,470** in May 2025 (+20%, a change derived by Future History).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Security Guards employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1850
- Latest US employment: 1,283,470 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Latest US median pay: $38,020 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [13]
- Outlook: +0.9% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [32]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **United Kingdom** (UK SOC 9231)
  - Employment, 2025: 93,000. Source: ONS ASHE 2025 [9]. ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Table 14): employee jobs in SOC 9231 Security guards and related occupations, United Kingdom, 2025 (ASHE "number of jobs", thousands x1000; excludes self-employment). Open Government Licence v3.0.
  - Median pay, 2025: £30,819. Source: ONS ASHE 2025 [17]. ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Table 14.7a): median gross annual pay for all employee jobs in SOC 9231 Security guards and related occupations, United Kingdom, 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0.
- **Australia** (ANZSCO 4422)
  - Employment, 2025: 62,800. Source: ABS Labour Force Survey [10]. ABS Labour Force Survey (Detailed), table EQ08: employed persons in ANZSCO 4422 Security Officers and Guards, national (summed across sex and state/territory), annual average of 4 quarterly estimates.
  - Median pay, 2025: A$94,536. Source: ABS Employee Earnings May 2025 [18]. Annualised (x52) from A$1,818 median weekly earnings. ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025: median pay for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, before tax. Surfaced via the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile.

### All 28 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1900 | 35,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Pinkerton [1] |
| 1940 | 100,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., History of Burns International Security… [2] |
| 1970 | 400,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., NIJ [3] |
| 1985 | 750,000 (estimate) | $11,500 (estimate) | Est., Duke University School of Law (employment) [4]; Est., Center for American Progress (pay) [11] |
| 2000 | 1,104,400 | $17,570 | BLS OEWS 2000 [5] |
| 2003 | 964,260 | $19,660 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [6] |
| 2004 | 978,570 | $20,320 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [6] |
| 2005 | 994,220 | $20,760 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [6] |
| 2006 | 1,004,130 | $21,530 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [6] |
| 2007 | 1,032,260 | $22,570 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [6] |
| 2008 | 1,046,760 | $23,460 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [6] |
| 2009 | 1,028,830 | $23,820 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [6] |
| 2010 | 1,006,880 | $23,920 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [6] |
| 2011 | 1,032,940 | $23,900 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [6] |
| 2012 | 1,046,420 | $23,970 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [6] |
| 2013 | 1,066,730 | $24,070 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [6] |
| 2014 | 1,077,520 | $24,410 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [6] |
| 2015 | 1,097,660 | $24,630 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [6] |
| 2016 | 1,103,120 | $25,770 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [6] |
| 2017 | 1,105,440 | $26,900 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [6] |
| 2018 | 1,114,380 | $28,490 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [6] |
| 2019 | 1,126,370 | $29,680 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [6] |
| 2020 | 1,054,400 | $31,050 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [6] |
| 2021 | 1,057,100 | $31,470 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [6] |
| 2022 | 1,124,890 | $34,750 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [6] |
| 2023 | 1,202,940 | $37,070 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [6] |
| 2024 | 1,241,770 | $38,370 | BLS OEWS May 2024 (employment) [6]; BLS OEWS May 2024 (pay) [14] |
| 2025 | 1,283,470 | $38,020 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [6] |

## Sources (111)

### Employment series

1. [Pinkerton — "Our Story" (Pinkerton National Detective Agency founded 1850; largest private law enforcement organization by 1870s-1890s)](https://pinkerton.com/our-story), Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations
2. [History of Burns International Security Services — FundingUniverse (Burns founded 1909; by 1959 had 30 regional offices and ~12,000 employees, about one-fourth former FBI or police)](https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/burns-international-security-services-history/), FundingUniverse / Burns International archives
3. [NIJ — "The Changing Environment for Policing, 1985-2008" (NCJ-230576): private security guards outnumbered police by the early 1980s; industry documented at $3.3B in 1982](https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/ncj230576.pdf), National Institute of Justice / Office of Justice Programs
4. [Duke University School of Law — "Private security, public protection" (citing private guards overtaking sworn police in the early 1980s, exceeding by 50% by the late 1990s)](https://law.duke.edu/news/private-security-public-protection), Duke University School of Law
5. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
7. ONS: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14.7a (Annual pay - Gross), 4-digit SOC 9241, United Kingdom. Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0., Office for National Statistics. Editions: [2002](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2002/2002-table-14.zip), [2006](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2006consistentw_007methodology/2006-table-14.zip), [2010](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2010revised/2010-revised-table-14.zip), [2011](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2011revisedbasedonsoc2010/2011-revised-table-14.zip), [2015](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2015/table142015revised.zip), [2020](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2020revised/table142020revised.zip)
8. [ONS: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14.7a (Annual pay - Gross), 4-digit SOC 9231, United Kingdom, 2022. Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2022revised/ashetable142022revised.zip), Office for National Statistics
9. [ONS: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14.7a (Annual pay - Gross), 4-digit SOC 9231, United Kingdom, 2025. Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2025provisional/ashetable142025provisional.zip), Office for National Statistics
10. [ABS: Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, table EQ08 (Employed persons by Occupation unit group, ANZSCO 2013), latest release](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release), Australian Bureau of Statistics

### Wage series

11. [Estimate based on documented industry wage scales circa 1985. The CBS News report "Homeland Security: Guards, Earning Little" (2005) documented that security guard wages had remained low relative to sworn police for decades; the Center for American Progress analysis ("Low Standards Hurt Security Officers' Ability to Make Ends Meet") documents real wages nearly flat from 2003 to 2022. Nominal wage for the mid-1980s is estimated at approximately $5.50-6.00/hour (~$11,000-12,500 annually), consistent with the documented 2003-2022 real-wage stagnation pattern. Inflation adjustment via BLS CPI-U.](https://www.americanprogress.org/article/low-standards-hurt-security-officers-ability-to-make-ends-meet/), Center for American Progress
12. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
13. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
14. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Security Guards (May 2024 median annual wage $38,370; substantially below sworn police median of ~$74,000 — the structural wage gap that defines the industry's cost economics)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/security-guards.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
15. ONS: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14.7a (Annual pay - Gross), 4-digit SOC 9241, United Kingdom. Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0., Office for National Statistics. Editions: [2002](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2002/2002-table-14.zip), [2006](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2006consistentw_007methodology/2006-table-14.zip), [2010](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2010revised/2010-revised-table-14.zip), [2011](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2011revisedbasedonsoc2010/2011-revised-table-14.zip), [2015](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2015/table142015revised.zip), [2020](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2020revised/table142020revised.zip)
16. [ONS: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14.7a (Annual pay - Gross), 4-digit SOC 9231, United Kingdom, 2022. Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2022revised/ashetable142022revised.zip), Office for National Statistics
17. [ONS: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14.7a (Annual pay - Gross), 4-digit SOC 9231, United Kingdom, 2025. Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.](https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/occupation4digitsoc2010ashetable14/2025provisional/ashetable142025provisional.zip), Office for National Statistics
18. [Jobs and Skills Australia: Security Officers and Guards (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025)](https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/4422-security-officers-and-guards), Jobs and Skills Australia / Australian Bureau of Statistics

### Tool eras

19. [Pinkerton — "Our Story" (Pinkerton National Detective Agency founded 1850; "We Never Sleep" motto and unblinking eye logo; largest private law enforcement organization by 1870s-1890s)](https://pinkerton.com/our-story), Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations
20. [Pinkerton (detective agency) — Wikipedia (founding ~1850; 300 agents at Homestead 1892; Anti-Pinkerton Act 1893; acquired by Securitas AB 1999 for $384M)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinkerton_%28detective_agency%29), Wikipedia / cited primary sources
21. [Watchclock — Wikipedia (Newman watchclock patent 1901; Detex Corporation formed 1923; insurance organizations approved by 1902; Detex discontinued mechanical models December 31, 2011)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchclock), Wikipedia / cited primary sources
22. [Detex Guardsman's Watchclock — Collectors Weekly (historical overview of the Guardsman model and watchclock mechanics)](https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/246669-detex-guardsmans-watchclock), Collectors Weekly
23. [Atlantic Radio Communications — "History of Walkie-Talkies: From WWII to Modern Two-Way Radios" (post-WWII civilian adoption; Motorola commercial development in 1950s; security and public safety deployment)](https://www.atlanticradiocorp.com/blogs/news/history-walkie-talkies-two-way-radios), Atlantic Radio Communications
24. [DTiQ — "History of Security Cameras: How Did CCTV Evolve" (1970s commercial adoption; VCR time-lapse recording in 1980s; CCD camera chip 1976; color cameras and motion detection in 1980s)](https://www.dtiq.com/blog/video-surveillance/history-of-security-cameras), DTiQ / Video Surveillance History
25. [Solink — "When Did CCTV Become Common: History of the Security Camera" (1970s adoption in banks and retailers; 1980s growth in commercial CCTV industry)](https://solink.com/resources/industry-insights/when-did-cctv-become-common/), Solink
26. [ECAM — "History of Video Surveillance: From CCTV to IP Cameras" (transition from analog to IP cameras in 2000s; DVR systems replacing VCR; remote access and network integration)](https://ecam.com/security-blog/the-evolution-of-video-surveillance), ECAM Security
27. [Verkada — Wikipedia (founded 2016 by Filip Kaliszan, James Ren, Benjamin Bercovitz, and Hans Robertson; $200M Series C 2020; $3.2B valuation 2022; $5.8B valuation December 2025)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verkada), Wikipedia / cited primary sources
28. [Tech Funding News — "Verkada reaches $5.8B valuation amid rising demand for AI-driven physical security" (December 2025 CapitalG-led round; $100M; AI analytics product overview)](https://techfundingnews.com/verkada-reaches-5-8b-valuation-amid-rising-demand-for-ai-driven-physical-security/), Tech Funding News
29. [Knightscope — Wikipedia (founded 2013; IPO January 27, 2022; K5 first shipped 2015; 10,000+ machines deployed; Sandy Hook motivation for founding)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knightscope), Wikipedia / cited primary sources
30. [Tech Startups — "Cobalt Robotics raises $35 million to expand its indoor robots" (2019; Cobalt founded 2016; $90M+ raised; FedEx, Slack, Ally Financial deployments; 60+ sensors per robot)](https://techstartups.com/2019/06/25/cobalt-robotics-raises-35-million-series-b-funding-expand-robots-service-throughout-us/), Tech Startups / Cobalt Robotics
31. [Flock Safety — Wikipedia (founded 2017; 5,000+ communities; 6,000+ municipalities; 20 billion vehicle scans per month; $7.5B valuation; $950M raised)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flock_Safety), Wikipedia / cited primary sources

### Forecasts and exposure studies

32. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 33-9032 Security guards (2025: 1,294.3 thousand; 2035: 1,305.6 thousand; +0.9%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=33-9032&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
33. [Frey & Osborne (2013), "The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation?", Appendix (SOC 33-9032 Security Guards: probability 0.84, rank 478 of 702)](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf), Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford
34. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 33-9032.00, human-rated β 0.25)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

35. [Pinkerton — "Our Story" (founded ~1850; railroad clients; "We Never Sleep" and unblinking eye; largest private law enforcement organization at peak)](https://pinkerton.com/our-story), Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations
36. [Pinkerton (detective agency) — Wikipedia (Homestead Strike July 6, 1892; 300 agents by barge; 7 workers and 3 Pinkertons killed; 23 wounded; Anti-Pinkerton Act 1893)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinkerton_%28detective_agency%29), Wikipedia / cited primary sources
37. [ASIS International — Wikipedia (founded 1955 as American Society for Industrial Security; largest professional security membership organization globally; focus on education, research, professional development)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASIS_International), Wikipedia / cited primary sources
38. [Duke University School of Law — "Private security, public protection" (private guards outnumber police since early 1980s, exceed by 50% by late 1990s; Reich 1991 cited)](https://law.duke.edu/news/private-security-public-protection), Duke University School of Law
39. [Cornell ILR School — "Security Guard Employment Before and After 2001" (employment fell ~124,000 or 11% from 1999-2003; post-9/11 spike followed by employer cutbacks)](https://ecommons.cornell.edu/entities/publication/ce9fba59-96f4-42f8-aaf2-2975c9de43ee), Cornell University ILR School
40. [Allied Universal — "Our Story" (AlliedBarton + Universal Services of America merger 2016; operations under Allied Universal name from February 2017; 800,000 global employees)](https://www.aus.com/our-story), Allied Universal
41. [Knightscope — Wikipedia (IPO January 27, 2022; Nasdaq: KSCP; K5 outdoor patrol robot; 10,000+ machines deployed; Sandy Hook massacre as founding motivation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knightscope), Wikipedia / cited primary sources
42. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers (2024 edition; May 2024 median annual wage $38,370; +2% projected 2023-33; 162,400 annual openings)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/security-guards.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Predecessors & successors

43. [IFPO — "The Impact of 9/11 on Private Security" (post-military transition to security guards documented as largest single feeder pipeline; Burns International by 1959 had ~1/4 workforce from ex-FBI or police)](https://ifpo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Impact-of-9-11-on-private-security-9-1-21-1.pdf), International Foundation for Protection Officers
44. [Duke University School of Law — "Private security, public protection" (retired police officers as common entrants to private security; lower wages but less demanding schedules cited)](https://law.duke.edu/news/private-security-public-protection), Duke University School of Law
45. [Center for American Progress — "Low Standards Hurt Security Officers' Ability to Make Ends Meet" (entry-level nature of the occupation; minimal formal training requirements historically; high turnover)](https://www.americanprogress.org/article/low-standards-hurt-security-officers-ability-to-make-ends-meet/), Center for American Progress

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Security Guards (33-9032.00): 14 tasks, skills, knowledge areas; median $18.45/hr ($38,370/yr), 1,262,100 positions, 'little or no change' projected 2024-2034, ~161,000 annual openings](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-9032.00), accessed 2026-05-30
- [BLS OOH Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers 2024-34 — 1,272,400 employed; median $38,370/yr; flat growth through 2034; BLS cites AI-integrated cameras and remote monitoring as limiting headcount growth; 162,300 annual openings](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/security-guards.htm), accessed 2026-05-30
- [Building Security Services — US security services market $49.1B (2026); guard/patrol segment $36.6B; annual turnover 77-95% (IBISWorld 2024); Allied Universal $20B revenue / 26.1% market share; manned guarding market grew $6.5B in one year (2025-26)](https://www.buildingsecurity.com/statistics/security-guard-industry/), accessed 2026-05-30
- [LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise 2025 — Security Guards in top 10 of 25 fastest-growing job titles (Jan 2022–Jul 2024 cohort); demand driven by guards who operate AI surveillance systems; 126,000+ open security guard + 34,000+ security officer positions on LinkedIn mid-2025](https://www.securitysales.com/news/security-guards-among-linkedins-25-jobs-on-the-rise-for-2025/609801/), accessed 2026-05-30
- [ASIS International — Guards to Guardians (Security Management, August 2025): evolution toward hybrid tech-operator; AI fluency cited as fastest-rising hiring criterion in 2025; guards who can operate AI video analytics command higher pay](https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/08/guards-to-guardians/), accessed 2026-05-30
- [ASIS — Guarding Companies Face High Turnover (October 2025): 40%+ of security service providers rank turnover #1 challenge; rising hourly pay (61%), labor shortage (52%), regulatory compliance (40%) as drivers](https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2025/october/guard-force-turnover/), accessed 2026-05-30
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): security guard core tasks (physical patrol, situational response, de-escalation) are outside LLM substitution range; incident report writing is the only high-LLM-adjacent task cluster](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-30
- [Hakimo AI Series A — $10.5M (Vertex Ventures + Zigg Capital), total $20.5M; AI Operator monitors cameras + badge readers using computer vision + GenAI; tripled customer base in 12 months; 100+ clients; prevented thousands of incidents in 2024](https://www.hakimo.ai/blog/hakimo-secures-10-5m-to-transform-physical-security-with-human-like-autonomous-security-agent), accessed 2026-05-30
- [Verkada AI-Powered Deterrence (February 2026) — detects loitering, generates context-aware verbal warnings with clothing/location description, escalates to sirens/police; 174+ new AI features in prior year; ranked #1 worldwide in VSaaS](https://www.verkada.com/blog/product-updates-february-2026/), accessed 2026-05-30
- [Knightscope K5/K7 Autonomous Security Robots — K7 unveiled November 2025 for large outdoor perimeters; MaaS pricing ~$7/hr vs. $35-$85/hr human guard; 2.5M+ operational hours; deployed at airports, casinos, universities, hospitals, government facilities](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251113250459/en/Knightscope-Unveils-the-All-New-K7-Autonomous-Security-Robot), accessed 2026-05-30
- [Digital Guard Tour — GPS checkpoint data, NFC scans, and incident logs are auto-timestamped and mapped; AI summarization available via Trinity Agent assistant; platform standard in contract security management](https://digitalguardtour.com/), accessed 2026-05-30
- [Avigilon Unity Visual Alerts (July 2025, v8.7) — natural-language event definitions let operators specify complex scenarios; Focus of Attention interface surfaces most important live events without guard having to watch every feed](https://www.avigilon.com/vms/on-premise), accessed 2026-05-30
- [Hakimo AI — platform enables one operator to monitor dozens of sites; AI handles 99%+ of false-alarm triage, surfacing only verified threats for human decision; customers tripled in 12 months](https://www.hakimo.ai/), accessed 2026-05-30

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.