Security Guard Salary – Average Pay Rates

Security Guard Salary

Security work needs a certain type of personality  you need to be polite but firm, fair but forceful when needed, professional yet helpful.  A mature responsibility is needed and the ability to react quickly to emergency situations is essential.

A security guard, or security officer, can work in many different areas. Security is needed at shops and malls, pubs and clubs, airports, large corporations like banks or hospitals. Night security can involve guarding work premises and factories or supermarkets.  You will be patrolling an area to ensure all is secure and safe with no unusual activity. This can involve foot patrols and monitoring CCTV cameras.  It could involve guarding money, valuables, people or searching people and bags or luggage to prevent dangerous situations occurring.

There will be some paperwork involved like keeping time sheets, logs of people or vehicles coming and going or writing reports after an incident. You will need to liaise with police and business owners on a regular basis and sometimes a role will involve customer service.

There are no formal qualifications needed although some roles will involve a Criminal Records Bureau check or a special licence (in the case of pubs and clubs for example).  Ex police and armed forces personnel are ideal for security work.

Starting salary: £12,000 – £15,000
Experienced salary: £20,000
Senior salary: £25,000 upwards