Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Security Managers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $106,660 Median per year · $51.28/hr Most earn $64,480–$176,120

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Develop, implement, manage, or evaluate policies and methods to protect personnel against harassment, threats, or violence.
  • Monitor security policies, programs or procedures to ensure compliance with internal security policies, or applicable government security requirements, policies, and directives.
  • Develop, recommend, or manage security procedures for operations or processes, such as security call centers, access control, and reporting tools.
  • Supervise or provide leadership to subordinate security professionals, performing activities such as hiring, investigating applicants' backgrounds, training, assigning work, evaluating performance, or disciplining.
  • Communicate security status, updates, and actual or potential problems, using established protocols.
  • Develop, arrange for, perform, or assess executive protection activities to reduce security risks.

Job outlook

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 14,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals7.9%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools6.7%
  • Elementary and secondary schools5.8%
  • Management of companies and enterprises5.0%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals4.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Security Manager is not usually an entry-level job. Most people spend about 4 to 6 years in security work, often after a bachelor's degree, before they lead a security function.

  1. Bachelor's degree in security management, criminal justice, or a related field

    4 years

    You build a foundation in risk, law, and how organizations protect people and property, which employers look for at this level.

  2. Security Guard

    1-2 years

    You learn on-the-job how facilities are secured, how incidents are reported, and how security procedures work day to day.

  3. First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers

    1-2 years

    You take charge of a team, schedules, and training, which builds the leadership skills needed for management.

  4. Security Management Specialist

    2 years

    You work on security planning, policies, and risk assessments across the organization, preparing you to oversee the whole function.

  5. Security Manager

    Ongoing

    You direct the organization's security functions, including physical security and the safety of employees and facilities.

Where it can lead

  1. Emergency Management Director

    4-6 years of experience first

    You shift focus from day-to-day security to planning and leading responses to large emergencies and disasters for a community or organization.

  2. Director of Security

    Several years as a Security Manager of experience first

    You oversee security across a larger organization or several sites, setting strategy and managing other managers; this usually requires a strong track record of leadership and planning.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take courses in government, psychology, or computer basicsThese classes build the reasoning, people skills, and tech comfort that security work relies on.
  • Join a leadership or student council clubLeading a group or running events gives you early practice with the teamwork and responsibility that managers need.
  • Get a first job that involves customer service or responsibilityA part-time job, such as at a store or a community venue, teaches you to stay calm, follow procedures, and handle problems.
  • Volunteer with a first-aid or safety groupVolunteering shows you how safety plans work in real situations and looks good on future applications.

In college

  • Major in security management, criminal justice, or a related fieldA bachelor's degree in one of these fields is a typical starting point for this career.
  • Take classes in risk management, law, or emergency planningThese courses cover the planning and legal knowledge security managers use every day.
  • Seek an internship at a campus, hospital, or corporate security officeHands-on experience helps you see the job up close and builds a resume for your first full-time role.
  • Take a campus job in security, facilities, or event operationsA campus security or event staff job gives you real experience with safety procedures and teamwork.
  • Join a student organization focused on safety or leadershipLeading a group or event builds the management experience employers look for when hiring for supervisor roles.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for internships or part-time jobs at places with security needs, such as hospitals, campuses, or event venues, to see how a security team actually runs.
  • Get comfortable with writing and public speaking. Managers write policies, report incidents, and explain risks to people who are not security experts.
  • Ask a security manager you know for an informational interview. Hearing how they got started can show you which steps matter most.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

Related careers