First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (SOC 33-1091) earn a median $55,940 a year ($26.90 an hour) in the United States, with 81,480 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What first-line supervisors of security workers do
First-line supervisors of security workers directly supervise and coordinate the activities of security workers and security guards. They investigate disturbances on the premises, such as security alarms, altercations and suspicious activity, and they patrol the premises to prevent or detect intrusion, protect property or preserve order. They monitor and authorize entry of employees, visitors and others, and they secure entrances and exits by locking doors and gates. They write reports documenting what they observe on patrol, and monitor the behavior of security employees to make sure they follow quality standards, deadlines and procedures. They advise employees in handling problems or resolving complaints from customers, tenants, detainees or others, and they recruit, interview and hire security personnel. O*NET alternate titles include guard captain, guard supervisor, loss prevention supervisor, campus safety chief, armed security supervisor and internal security manager. Education is varied: about 30 percent of respondents report an associate degree, 28 percent a high school diploma and 26 percent some college courses. Police supervisors are classified in the first-line supervisors of police code instead.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report an associate degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (30 percent).
Also called: Armed Security Supervisor, Armed Site Supervisor, Campus Safety Chief, Guard Captain, Guard Chief.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.93 | $21.65 | $26.90 | $34.59 | $44.35 | $28.80 | 81,480 |
| Annual | $37,300 | $45,030 | $55,940 | $71,950 | $92,260 | $59,900 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where first-line supervisors of security workers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $25.02 | $35.48 | $40.24 | $46.45 | $50.59 | $40.33 | 710 | 1.01 | 1.92 |
| Annual | $52,050 | $73,800 | $83,710 | $96,610 | $105,230 | $83,880 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $24.05 | $27.11 | $37.56 | $42.20 | $43.25 | $35.18 | 60 | 0.19 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $50,030 | $56,390 | $78,110 | $87,770 | $89,960 | $73,170 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $24.07 | $30.84 | $35.34 | $40.72 | $47.95 | $36.45 | 260 | 0.79 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $50,070 | $64,150 | $73,500 | $84,700 | $99,740 | $75,810 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $22.17 | $28.39 | $32.11 | $39.05 | $49.15 | $34.31 | 250 | 0.36 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $46,110 | $59,060 | $66,780 | $81,220 | $102,240 | $71,360 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $18.19 | $22.25 | $30.62 | $36.29 | $50.57 | $32.31 | 1,640 | 0.59 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $37,840 | $46,270 | $63,690 | $75,480 | $105,190 | $67,210 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.51 | $22.13 | $25.94 | $34.30 | $43.18 | $28.81 | 10,850 | 0.60 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $38,490 | $46,040 | $53,960 | $71,340 | $89,800 | $59,930 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $21.51 | $22.83 | $28.79 | $37.61 | $46.45 | $31.81 | 7,050 | 0.73 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $44,750 | $47,490 | $59,890 | $78,230 | $96,610 | $66,150 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.02 | $20.79 | $22.67 | $29.02 | $37.14 | $25.74 | 6,560 | 0.66 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $37,480 | $43,240 | $47,140 | $60,370 | $77,240 | $53,540 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $11.51 | $17.38 | $22.47 | $29.94 | $43.25 | $25.46 | 6,490 | 0.46 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $23,940 | $36,150 | $46,740 | $62,280 | $89,960 | $52,950 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $17.59 | $18.78 | $22.84 | $30.95 | $38.39 | $26.31 | 3,160 | 0.52 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $36,580 | $39,060 | $47,510 | $64,380 | $79,840 | $54,720 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | Hourly | $18.50 | $24.40 | $48.24 | $48.24 | $48.24 | $37.78 | 180 | 0.68 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $50,750 | $100,340 | $100,340 | $100,340 | $78,590 | ||||
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | Hourly | $17.27 | $30.33 | $43.08 | $57.89 | $57.89 | $40.97 | 40 | 0.38 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $35,920 | $63,090 | $89,610 | $120,400 | $120,400 | $85,230 | ||||
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | Hourly | $21.22 | $31.39 | $41.13 | $46.03 | $47.18 | $37.78 | 30 | 0.24 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $44,140 | $65,300 | $85,540 | $95,750 | $98,140 | $78,570 | ||||
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | Hourly | $26.00 | $31.97 | $39.84 | $52.48 | $62.05 | $42.19 | 60 | 0.44 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $54,080 | $66,500 | $82,880 | $109,150 | $129,070 | $87,760 | ||||
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | Hourly | $20.62 | $25.03 | $39.43 | $49.41 | $63.25 | $41.45 | 230 | 0.82 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $42,880 | $52,070 | $82,010 | $102,770 | $131,560 | $86,220 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $21.51 | $23.12 | $28.79 | $37.67 | $46.43 | $31.95 | 7,310 | 0.77 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $44,750 | $48,090 | $59,890 | $78,340 | $96,570 | $66,450 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $19.13 | $22.29 | $23.99 | $31.55 | $41.74 | $28.30 | 4,240 | 0.68 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $39,800 | $46,360 | $49,900 | $65,620 | $86,810 | $58,860 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $18.41 | $21.30 | $22.94 | $29.75 | $37.64 | $26.28 | 2,900 | 1.03 | 1.96 |
| Annual | $38,290 | $44,300 | $47,720 | $61,880 | $78,300 | $54,670 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $22.12 | $25.28 | $35.33 | $44.68 | $50.12 | $35.26 | 2,400 | 0.76 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $46,010 | $52,590 | $73,490 | $92,920 | $104,250 | $73,330 | ||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $17.26 | $20.09 | $25.56 | $30.33 | $39.50 | $27.82 | 2,240 | 1.97 | 3.76 |
| Annual | $35,900 | $41,790 | $53,160 | $63,090 | $82,160 | $57,870 | ||||
Top industries employing first-line supervisors of security workers
Investigation and Security Services employ 54.7% of first-line supervisors of security workers nationally (44,540 jobs) at a median $47,880 a year ($23.02 an hour), followed by Traveler Accommodation (6.1%) and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (5.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation and Security Services NAICS 561600 | 44,540 | 54.7% | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Traveler Accommodation NAICS 721100 | 4,970 | 6.1% | $57,380 | $27.59 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 4,210 | 5.2% | $64,680 | $31.10 |
| Gambling Industries NAICS 713200 | 2,690 | 3.3% | $50,900 | $24.47 |
| General Merchandise Retailers NAICS 455000 | 2,470 | 3.0% | $65,220 | $31.36 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (81,480). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $50,240 for first-line supervisors of security workers in May 2021 and $55,940 in May 2025, with employment of 55,450 and 81,480.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $50,240 | $24.15 | 55,450 |
| May 2022 | $48,810 | $23.47 | 59,520 |
| May 2023 | $54,580 | $26.24 | 64,900 |
| May 2024 | $58,610 | $28.18 | 70,310 |
| May 2025 | $55,940 | $26.90 | 81,480 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $40.24 | $83,710 | $52,050 | $105,230 | 710 | 1.01 | 1.92 |
| 2 | Vermont profile | $37.56 | $78,110 | $50,030 | $89,960 | 60 | 0.19 | 0.36 |
| 3 | Alaska profile | $35.34 | $73,500 | $50,070 | $99,740 | 260 | 0.79 | 1.51 |
| 4 | New Hampshire profile | $32.11 | $66,780 | $46,110 | $102,240 | 250 | 0.36 | 0.70 |
| 5 | Maryland profile | $30.62 | $63,690 | $37,840 | $105,190 | 1,640 | 0.59 | 1.13 |
| 6 | Delaware profile | $30.21 | $62,840 | $43,000 | $89,460 | 180 | 0.38 | 0.72 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $30.05 | $62,510 | $46,730 | $98,540 | 1,800 | 0.51 | 0.97 |
| 8 | New Mexico profile | $29.97 | $62,330 | $40,780 | $94,770 | 580 | 0.67 | 1.27 |
| 9 | New Jersey profile | $29.61 | $61,590 | $42,340 | $93,000 | 2,200 | 0.51 | 0.98 |
| 10 | Indiana profile | $29.58 | $61,520 | $35,810 | $93,570 | 1,620 | 0.51 | 0.97 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $29.30 | $60,940 | $48,350 | $96,320 | 980 | 0.50 | 0.95 |
| 12 | Virginia profile | $29.23 | $60,790 | $42,440 | $99,820 | 2,120 | 0.52 | 0.98 |
| 13 | New York profile | $28.79 | $59,890 | $44,750 | $96,610 | 7,050 | 0.73 | 1.39 |
| 14 | Arizona profile | $28.68 | $59,650 | $39,360 | $79,440 | 1,550 | 0.48 | 0.91 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $28.63 | $59,540 | $38,820 | $95,020 | 2,370 | 0.39 | 0.74 |
| 16 | Hawaii profile | $28.40 | $59,080 | $36,730 | $79,490 | 590 | 0.94 | 1.79 |
| 17 | Minnesota profile | $28.14 | $58,540 | $46,450 | $95,370 | 1,260 | 0.43 | 0.82 |
| 18 | Missouri profile | $27.98 | $58,200 | $44,660 | $103,030 | 1,090 | 0.37 | 0.71 |
| 19 | Kansas profile | $27.87 | $57,960 | $37,720 | $87,530 | 480 | 0.33 | 0.64 |
| 20 | Massachusetts profile | $27.83 | $57,890 | $48,220 | $78,980 | 1,810 | 0.50 | 0.95 |
| 21 | South Dakota profile | $27.83 | $57,880 | $40,130 | $93,590 | 80 | 0.19 | 0.35 |
| 22 | North Dakota profile | $27.75 | $57,720 | $39,690 | $85,650 | 100 | 0.23 | 0.44 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $27.59 | $57,390 | $34,800 | $85,230 | 2,730 | 0.55 | 1.05 |
| 24 | Maine profile | $27.50 | $57,200 | $47,650 | $76,880 | 170 | 0.26 | 0.50 |
| 25 | Utah profile | $27.06 | $56,290 | $44,880 | $81,190 | 380 | 0.22 | 0.42 |
| 26 | Connecticut profile | $26.92 | $55,990 | $44,150 | $92,010 | 700 | 0.41 | 0.79 |
| 27 | Wisconsin profile | $26.57 | $55,270 | $39,520 | $77,910 | 880 | 0.30 | 0.57 |
| 28 | Colorado profile | $26.29 | $54,680 | $42,890 | $89,830 | 1,520 | 0.53 | 1.01 |
| 29 | Michigan profile | $26.20 | $54,500 | $38,460 | $77,350 | 1,940 | 0.44 | 0.84 |
| 30 | Arkansas profile | $25.96 | $54,000 | $33,570 | $102,770 | 970 | 0.74 | 1.42 |
| 31 | California profile | $25.94 | $53,960 | $38,490 | $89,800 | 10,850 | 0.60 | 1.14 |
| 32 | Nevada profile | $25.58 | $53,210 | $35,970 | $82,940 | 2,540 | 1.64 | 3.12 |
| 33 | Ohio profile | $25.49 | $53,020 | $37,750 | $79,640 | 2,030 | 0.37 | 0.70 |
| 34 | Wyoming profile | $24.88 | $51,740 | $35,740 | $89,840 | 90 | 0.30 | 0.58 |
| 35 | Oklahoma profile | $24.71 | $51,400 | $36,970 | $80,050 | 1,480 | 0.86 | 1.65 |
| 36 | Rhode Island profile | $24.56 | $51,090 | $46,710 | $85,050 | 250 | 0.50 | 0.96 |
| 37 | Tennessee profile | $24.44 | $50,830 | $37,480 | $100,350 | 1,850 | 0.57 | 1.08 |
| 38 | Louisiana profile | $24.32 | $50,580 | $37,680 | $80,070 | 890 | 0.46 | 0.88 |
| 39 | Kentucky profile | $24.17 | $50,260 | $36,640 | $78,790 | 810 | 0.41 | 0.77 |
| 40 | Georgia profile | $23.75 | $49,400 | $34,660 | $91,270 | 2,540 | 0.52 | 0.99 |
| 41 | Idaho profile | $23.70 | $49,300 | $37,160 | $76,900 | 230 | 0.27 | 0.52 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.84 | $47,510 | $36,580 | $79,840 | 3,160 | 0.52 | 0.99 |
| 43 | Alabama profile | $22.81 | $47,440 | $33,190 | $94,380 | 850 | 0.40 | 0.77 |
| 44 | Florida profile | $22.67 | $47,140 | $37,480 | $77,240 | 6,560 | 0.66 | 1.26 |
| 45 | South Carolina profile | $22.65 | $47,100 | $35,280 | $80,390 | 770 | 0.33 | 0.64 |
| 46 | Texas profile | $22.47 | $46,740 | $23,940 | $89,960 | 6,490 | 0.46 | 0.88 |
| 47 | Iowa profile | $22.39 | $46,560 | $37,080 | $79,560 | 390 | 0.25 | 0.48 |
| 48 | Montana profile | $22.29 | $46,370 | $35,890 | $99,960 | 210 | 0.41 | 0.77 |
| 49 | West Virginia profile | $22.04 | $45,850 | $30,850 | $65,750 | 390 | 0.56 | 1.06 |
| 50 | Nebraska profile | $21.97 | $45,700 | $39,300 | $89,920 | 370 | 0.36 | 0.69 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $20.87 | $43,410 | $28,900 | $71,260 | 670 | 0.58 | 1.10 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (33-1090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Protective Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 33-1091 First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 33-1091, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-1091.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.