Annual Salary
£20,000 to £35,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Armed forces or Emergency or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Armed forces or Emergency or go back to all job sectors
Security officers make sure that buildings, valuables and people are safe and secure.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts
There will be
0.3% more Security officer jobs in 2027.
Your duties will depend on where you work.
As a security officer you could:
You may need to wear a uniform.
Your working environment may be physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers.
You can get into this job through:
You can apply for a Professional Security Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship to get into this role.
You could also do a Security First Line Manager Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, if you have experience in security work.
These take between 1 and 2 years to complete.
To work legally in many jobs as a security guard you need a front line Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence.
Before you apply for this licence you need to train for an approved 'licence-linked' qualification. This is so that employers can be sure you have the skills and knowledge you need to do the job safely.
The qualification you need will depend on the type of security work you want to do, for example:
You can search for the correct type of training with an approved training provider in your area, through the SIA website.
You'll need to:
Experience of working in the police or armed forces could help you get into this job.
You can join the International Professional Security Association for training and development opportunities.
With experience, you could become a supervisor or chief security officer.
You could take further qualifications, through an advanced Security First Line Manager apprenticeship to go into security management.
With management experience you could become an area security manager, with responsibility for offices, shops or other facilities across a region.
You could specialise as a consultant, advising businesses on certain types of security, for example close protection, anti-terror measures or conflict management.
You could also set up your own security recruitment agency, or work for companies that develop and sell security systems, like biometrics or surveillance equipment.
You'll need: