Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
First-line supervisors of security workers oversee and coordinate the work of security staff, combining leadership responsibilities with hands-on problem solving. Nationally, this occupation employs about 72,000 people, indicating a sizable field with established career paths. The national median annual salary is $58,610, with variations by state and metro area that can influence where candidates may want to focus their job search. Projected employment growth of 2.7% and about 7,000 annual openings point to ongoing hiring needs over time. The role draws heavily on leadership, interpersonal abilities, and problem solving, supported by skills in project management, customer service, and critical and analytical thinking. Speaking and listening, along with writing and reading, are also important to functioning effectively in supervisory duties. With a typical education level of a high school diploma or equivalent, this career can be accessible to individuals who build a strong skill set in supervision and communication. Related career options include supervisory, administrative, and managerial occupations.
The national median annual salary for first-line supervisors of security workers is $58,610, but pay differs across locations. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $53,960 in California to $62,510 in Washington. New York’s median salary is $59,890 and Massachusetts is close behind at $57,890, while Colorado’s is $54,680. At the metro level, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV stands out with a median salary of $73,490, the highest among the listed metro areas. Other metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($60,590), New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($59,890), and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,910) also offer pay above or near the national median. These differences suggest that choosing certain states or metro areas can have a meaningful impact on earning potential for this career.
For first-line supervisors of security workers, national employment is about 72,000, indicating a substantial number of positions across the country. Projected employment growth of 2.7% suggests that the field is expected to expand over time, rather than contract. In addition, there are about 7,000 annual openings, which reflect opportunities from both new positions and turnover in existing roles. The combination of existing employment size, positive growth, and steady openings can be important for students and job seekers evaluating long-term stability. Across the highlighted states and metro areas, projected growth is consistently listed at 2.7%, aligning with the national projection. This consistency means that, at least among these leading locations, candidates can expect similar growth percentages while focusing on other factors such as salary and local employment size when comparing options.
Location can play a major role in opportunities for first-line supervisors of security workers. Among states, California has the largest listed employment at 10,850, with a median salary of $53,960 and an opportunity score of 67.38, the highest in the state rankings provided. New York also shows a strong combination of a $59,890 median salary, 7,050 employed, and a 65.78 opportunity score. Washington offers the highest median salary among the listed states at $62,510, with 1,800 employed and an opportunity score of 56.29. Massachusetts and Colorado also appear as notable options, each with projected growth of 2.7% and opportunity scores above 56. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with very high opportunity scores of 77.42 and 77.27. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV combines a strong opportunity score of 64.47 with the highest metro median salary of $73,490.
For first-line supervisors of security workers, the typical education level is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the career accessible to individuals who may not have a college degree but are ready to develop and demonstrate strong workplace skills. Since formal education requirements are relatively modest, employers are likely to place significant value on key competencies. Important skills for this occupation include leadership, project management, and interpersonal abilities, all of which support supervising teams and coordinating work. Adaptability, problem solving and decision making, and critical and analytical thinking help supervisors respond effectively to changing situations. Skills in computers and information technology contribute to handling modern work environments, while strong speaking and listening, writing and reading, and customer service skills support clear communication and effective interactions. For those who build this combination of skills, the role can also serve as a foundation for exploring related supervisory and managerial occupations.
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