Security Guards

AI & job outlook

What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.

Exposure to current AI

Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.

OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.2), with simple added tooling (β 0.2), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.2). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.

This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.

Mixed signals. Today's AI/LLM studies show relatively low exposure for this job, but the older (2013) Frey–Osborne work rated it higher for computerization and robotics. Different eras, different technologies — the AI measures above reflect the current state.

How AI is actually used in this job

Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.

Job outlook

Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.

“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.

Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient

The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.

Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.

Tasks

All 14 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.

• Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings. Core · importance 4.9
• Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates. Core · importance 4.8
• Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics. Core · importance 4.8
• Answer alarms and investigate disturbances. Core · importance 4.7
• Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property. Core · importance 4.7
• Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises. Core · importance 4.7
• Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences. Core · importance 4.6
• Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary. Core · importance 4.6
• Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed. Core · importance 4.5
• Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons. Core · importance 4.4
• Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas. Supplemental · importance 4.4
• Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, or machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering. Supplemental · importance 4.2
• Escort or drive motor vehicle to transport individuals to specified locations or to provide personal protection. Supplemental · importance 3.7
• Monitor and adjust controls that regulate building systems, such as air conditioning, furnace, or boiler. Supplemental · importance 2.8

Work activities

• Block physical access to restricted areas.
• Provide first aid or rescue assistance in emergencies.
• Patrol properties to maintain safety.
• Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
• Respond to emergencies to provide assistance.
• Monitor access or flow of people to prevent problems.
• Prevent unauthorized individuals from entering restricted areas.
• Write operational reports.
• Request emergency personnel.
• Maintain public order or security.
• Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
• Use weapons or physical force to maintain security.
• Warn individuals about rule violations or safety concerns.
• Operate surveillance equipment to detect suspicious or illegal activities.
• Drive vehicles to transport individuals or equipment.
• Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
• Adjust building climate control systems.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).

Knowledge

Abilities

Essential skills

Transferable skills

Skills in demand

Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.

• English Language Common Skill
• Telecommunications Specialized Skill
• Active Listening Common Skill
• Speech Recognition Specialized Skill
• Deductive Reasoning Common Skill
• Critical Thinking Common Skill
• Psychology Specialized Skill
• Social Perceptiveness Common Skill
• Reading Comprehension Common Skill
• Microsoft Word Common Skill
• Microsoft SharePoint Specialized Skill
• Microsoft Outlook Common Skill
• Microsoft Excel Common Skill
• Information Ordering Specialized Skill
• Inductive Reasoning Common Skill
• Foreign Language Common Skill
• Active Learning Common Skill
• Geography Specialized Skill
• Writing Common Skill
• Negotiation Common Skill
• Learning Strategies Specialized Skill
• Complex Problem Solving Common Skill
• Biology Specialized Skill
• Time Management Common Skill
• Visualization Specialized Skill
• Mathematics Common Skill
• Instructing Specialized Skill
• Depth Perception Common Skill
• Physics Specialized Skill
• Chemistry Specialized Skill
• Wireshark Specialized Skill
• Systems Analysis Specialized Skill
• Finger Dexterity Common Skill
• FaceTime Common Skill
• Equipment Maintenance Specialized Skill
• Installation Specialized Skill
• Equipment Selection Specialized Skill

Tools & technology

Work context

How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.

How to get in

Job zone

Zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Education

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Typical entry-level education

High school diploma or equivalent · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement

Related experience

Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Preparation level

SVP (Below 6.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.

What to study: Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.

Education of current workers

Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.

Interests & work styles

The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.

Interest areas

Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)

Work styles

Wages & employment

U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)

Industries that employ this occupation

Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.

Where this work is most concentrated

Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).

Related occupations

Part of the Public Service & Safety career cluster.

• First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers · 33-1091.00 Compare →
• Transit and Railroad Police · 33-3052.00 Compare →
• Transportation Security Screeners · 33-9093.00 Compare →
• Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · 33-3051.00 Compare →
• Parking Enforcement Workers · 33-3041.00 Compare →
• Public Safety Telecommunicators · 43-5031.00 Compare →
• Retail Loss Prevention Specialists · 33-9099.02 Compare →
• Correctional Officers and Jailers · 33-3012.00 Compare →
• Crossing Guards and Flaggers · 33-9091.00 Compare →
• Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers · 33-9092.00 Compare →
• Security Managers · 11-3013.01 Compare →
• Security Management Specialists · 13-1199.07 Compare →

Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.

What you can do with this

Options the data surfaces for Security Guards — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

• O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
• BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
• Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
• “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
• AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
• ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
• IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
• Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
• Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

@misc{singulariki-role-33-9032-00,
  title  = {Security Guards},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-33-9032-00}
}