Jobs Similar to Security Managers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to security managers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Loss Prevention Managers, Emergency Management Directors and Business Continuity Planners.
Security Managers: $106,660 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
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 Managers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loss Prevention Managers | 84% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Emergency Management Directors | 82% | $93,330 | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Business Continuity Planners | 80% | $83,050Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | 79% | $55,940 | High school |
| 5 | Compliance Managers | 79% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Purchasing ManagersSame group | 79% | $148,080 | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Retail Loss Prevention Specialists | 79% | $42,540Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 8 | Human Resources ManagersSame group | 79% | $149,280 | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersSame group | 79% | $107,230 | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | 79% | $69,990 | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Security Management Specialists | 79% | $83,050Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Chief Executives | 78% | $213,990 | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Project Management Specialists | 78% | $102,320 | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 78% | $106,040 | High school |
| 15 | Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | 78% | $96,660 | High school |
| 16 | Gambling Managers | 78% | $93,220 | High school |
| 17 | Information Technology Project Managers | 77% | $116,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Medical and Health Services Managers | 77% | $123,860 | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | General and Operations Managers | 77% | $105,770 | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 77% | $79,520 | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Loss Prevention Managers
84% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Emergency Management Directors
82% similar · $93,330 · Bachelor's degree
- 3Business Continuity Planners
80% similar · $83,050 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 4First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
79% similar · $55,940 · High school
- 5Compliance Managers
79% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Purchasing Managers
79% similar · $148,080 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
79% similar · $42,540 (broader group) · High school
- 8Human Resources Managers
79% similar · $149,280 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
79% similar · $107,230 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
79% similar · $69,990 · Bachelor's degree
- 11Security Management Specialists
79% similar · $83,050 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Chief Executives
78% similar · $213,990 · Graduate degree
- 13Project Management Specialists
78% similar · $102,320 · Bachelor's degree
- 14First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
78% similar · $106,040 · High school
- 15Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
78% similar · $96,660 · High school
- 16Gambling Managers
78% similar · $93,220 · High school
- 17Information Technology Project Managers
77% similar · $116,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Medical and Health Services Managers
77% similar · $123,860 · Bachelor's degree
- 19General and Operations Managers
77% similar · $105,770 · Bachelor's degree
- 20Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
77% similar · $79,520 · Bachelor's degree
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 need less preparation
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers79% similar · High school
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists79% similar · High school
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives78% similar · High school
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents78% similar · High school
- Gambling Managers78% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for security managers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where security managers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Loss Prevention Managers (94)
- Emergency Management Directors (92)
- Security Management Specialists (89)
- Business Continuity Planners (87)
- Compliance Managers (86)
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers (79)
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts (78)
- Project Management Specialists (78)
- Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling (77)
- General and Operations Managers (77)
Questions about jobs like security managers
What jobs are most similar to security managers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Loss Prevention Managers (84% similar), Emergency Management Directors (82% similar), Business Continuity Planners (80% similar), First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (79% similar) and Compliance Managers (79% similar).
Do jobs like security managers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than security managers where a direct comparison is possible.
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.