Management
Security Managers
Also called: Corporate Physical Security Supervisor, Corporate Security Manager, Judicial Office Security Director, Physical Security Manager
US median pay
$106,660
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4.6%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
14,200
165,900 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.
What they do day to day
- Develop budgets for security operations.
- Identify, investigate, or resolve security breaches.
- Plan, direct, or coordinate security activities to safeguard company employees, guests, or others on company property.
- Direct or participate in emergency management and contingency planning.
- Respond to medical emergencies, bomb threats, fire alarms, or intrusion alarms, following emergency response procedures.
- Analyze and evaluate security operations to identify risks or opportunities for improvement through auditing, review, or assessment.
- Create or implement security standards, policies, and procedures.
- Assess risks to mitigate potential consequences of incidents and develop a plan to respond to incidents.
- Supervise or provide leadership to subordinate security professionals, performing activities such as hiring, investigating applicants' backgrounds, training, assigning work, evaluating performance, or disciplining.
- Develop, implement, manage, or evaluate policies and methods to protect personnel against harassment, threats, or violence.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.8/5
- Management of Financial Resources3.6/5
- Time Management3.5/5
- Systems Evaluation3.4/5
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security4.9/5
- English Language4.3/5
- Law and Government4.2/5
- Administration and Management4.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree70%
- Master's degree15%
- Associate's degree10%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.