Security guards and related occupations: pay and what the work involves

Occupation 9231 · Elementary occupations

Security guards and related occupations

Security guards and related occupations protect merchandise, individuals, hotels, offices, factories, shops, public grounds and private estates from injury, theft or damage.

How people enter it

There are no formal academic entry requirements. For some vacancies a current and clean driving licence is required and entrants may have to pass a medical examination. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/SVQs covering various aspects of security guarding are available at level 2.

What the work involves

walks or rides near person requiring protection, watches for suspicious occurrences and defends guarded person from attack
monitors, patrols and deals with security difficulties in hotels, factories, offices and other premises, and public or private estates to prevent theft and unauthorised entry
checks persons and vehicles entering and leaving premises, establishes their credentials and arranges for escorts for visitors
provides entry security, checks tickets, manages queues, takes entry fees, and escorts people from the premises where necessary in a variety of public venues such as nightclubs, pubs and bars
receives duty sheet, time-clock and keys for premises to be visited, checks locks, doors, windows, etc. and reports any suspicious circumstances to security headquarters
calls in civil police and gives evidence in court where necessary
ejects persons in illegal occupation of premises
watches for illegal fishing or attempted smuggling
patrols airport, checks passengers baggage, operates metal detectors and x-rays and assists in responding to emergency situations
greets and organises people attending court cases, ensures necessary parties are present, calls defendants and witnesses, directs oath taking and keeps order in the courtroom

Also called

CCTV operator · Court usher · Door supervisor · Enforcement officer · Security guard · Security officer

What it pays

Measure	Hours	Basis	Period	Value	Source
9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	None	2026-03	131,200.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	None	2026-03	139,200.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	None	2026-03	154,800.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	None	2026-03	3,900.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	None	2026-03	15,500.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	None	2026-03	158,600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	None	2026-03	8,000.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Region	Measure	Hours	Value	Period
East	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	12,900.00	2026-03
East Midlands	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	9,900.00	2026-03
London	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	28,200.00	2026-03
North East	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	4,600.00	2026-03
North West	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	20,900.00	2026-03
Northern Ireland	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	3,900.00	2026-03
Scotland	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	15,500.00	2026-03
South East	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	24,400.00	2026-03
South West	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	8,800.00	2026-03
Wales	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	8,000.00	2026-03
West Midlands	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	10,500.00	2026-03
Yorkshire and The Humber	9231 : Security guards and related occupations	None	10,900.00	2026-03

Common questions

Does pay for security guards and related occupations vary by region?

ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 12 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.

Where do these pay figures come from?

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.

Classified alongside this

Exam invigilators · School midday and crossing patrol occupations