Jobs Similar to Security Guards
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to security guards, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Correctional Officers and Jailers, Transit and Railroad Police and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers.
Security Guards: $38,020 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Security Guards) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Correctional Officers and Jailers | 81% | $58,940+55% | High school |
| 2 | Transit and Railroad Police | 81% | $90,230+137% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 80% | $76,210+100% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Bailiffs | 79% | $56,600+49% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Animal Control WorkersSame group | 79% | $45,660+20% | High school |
| 6 | Public Safety Telecommunicators | 77% | $53,040+40% | High school |
| 7 | Crossing Guards and FlaggersSame group | 76% | $38,1000% | High school |
| 8 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | 76% | $50,340+32% | High school |
| 9 | Transportation Security ScreenersSame group | 76% | $66,770+76% | High school |
| 10 | Parking Enforcement Workers | 76% | $46,730+23% | High school |
| 11 | Police Identification and Records Officers | 75% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 12 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 74% | $93,790+147% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Customs and Border Protection Officers | 74% | $76,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Retail Loss Prevention SpecialistsSame group | 74% | $42,540Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 15 | Fish and Game Wardens | 74% | $74,060+95% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersSame group | 74% | $33,580−12% | High school |
| 17 | Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | 74% | $38,630+2% | High school |
| 18 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | 73% | $75,920+100% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Orderlies | 73% | $38,290+1% | High school |
| 20 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | 73% | $55,940+47% | High school |
- 1Correctional Officers and Jailers
81% similar · $58,940 (+55%) · High school
- 2Transit and Railroad Police
81% similar · $90,230 (+137%) · Training or associate
- 3Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
80% similar · $76,210 (+100%) · Training or associate
- 4Bailiffs
79% similar · $56,600 (+49%) · Training or associate
- 5Animal Control Workers
79% similar · $45,660 (+20%) · High school · Same group
- 6Public Safety Telecommunicators
77% similar · $53,040 (+40%) · High school
- 7Crossing Guards and Flaggers
76% similar · $38,100 (0%) · High school · Same group
- 8Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
76% similar · $50,340 (+32%) · High school
- 9Transportation Security Screeners
76% similar · $66,770 (+76%) · High school · Same group
- 10Parking Enforcement Workers
76% similar · $46,730 (+23%) · High school
- 11Police Identification and Records Officers
75% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 12Detectives and Criminal Investigators
74% similar · $93,790 (+147%) · Training or associate
- 13Customs and Border Protection Officers
74% similar · $76,210 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 14Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
74% similar · $42,540 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 15Fish and Game Wardens
74% similar · $74,060 (+95%) · Training or associate
- 16Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
74% similar · $33,580 (−12%) · High school · Same group
- 17Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
74% similar · $38,630 (+2%) · High school
- 18Fire Inspectors and Investigators
73% similar · $75,920 (+100%) · Training or associate
- 19Orderlies
73% similar · $38,290 (+1%) · High school
- 20First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
73% similar · $55,940 (+47%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than security guards.
- Transportation Security Screeners76% similar · $66,770 (+76%)
- Correctional Officers and Jailers81% similar · $58,940 (+55%)
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers73% similar · $55,940 (+47%)
- Public Safety Telecommunicators77% similar · $53,040 (+40%)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance76% similar · $50,340 (+32%)
- Parking Enforcement Workers76% similar · $46,730 (+23%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for security guards also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where security guards is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Parking Enforcement Workers (80)
- Customs and Border Protection Officers (75)
- Orderlies (73)
- Correctional Officers and Jailers (72)
- Police Identification and Records Officers (72)
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians (70)
- Couriers and Messengers (70)
- Public Safety Telecommunicators (70)
- Bailiffs (69)
- Animal Trainers (68)
Questions about jobs like security guards
What jobs are most similar to security guards?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Correctional Officers and Jailers (81% similar), Transit and Railroad Police (81% similar), Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (80% similar), Bailiffs (79% similar) and Animal Control Workers (79% similar).
Which jobs like security guards pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Detectives and Criminal Investigators ($93,790, +147%; usually training or an associate degree), Transit and Railroad Police ($90,230, +137%; usually training or an associate degree) and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers ($76,210, +100%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with security guards ($38,020). Without more preparation than security guards usually need: Transportation Security Screeners, Correctional Officers and Jailers and First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.