Protective service · SOC 33-9032
Security guards
BLS projects 1,294,300 jobs in 2025 to become 1,305,600 by 2035 — +0.9%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
+0.9%
projected change to 2035
About 11,300 more jobs
156,000
openings a year
12.1% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$38,020
median annual pay
Usually entered with: high school diploma or equivalent
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment1,294,300
- 2035 projected1,305,600
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other protective service occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Police and sheriff's patrol officers693,200+3.5%
- Correctional officers and jailers397,800-7.4%
- Firefighters355,300+3.7%
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers162,000+5.5%
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives160,200+3.3%
- Detectives and criminal investigators120,500+0.2%
- First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers101,600+3.7%
- Crossing guards and flaggers94,800+3.5%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.