Career Paths From Security Guards

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersAdvancement94.3% skill match
Security Guards and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 100% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$76,210
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Transit and Railroad PoliceAdvancement94.4% skill match
Security Guards and Transit and Railroad Police share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Transit and Railroad Police is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 137% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$90,230
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Correctional Officers and JailersLateral Move94.5% skill match
Security Guards and Correctional Officers and Jailers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Correctional Officers and Jailers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 55% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$58,940
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Flight AttendantsCareer Change95.1% skill match
Security Guards and Flight Attendants share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Flight Attendants is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 67% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$63,580
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Animal Control WorkersLateral Move94.8% skill match
Security Guards and Animal Control Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Animal Control Workers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 20% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$45,660
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
BailiffsAdvancement94.1% skill match
Security Guards and Bailiffs share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Bailiffs is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 49% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$56,600
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Passenger AttendantsCareer Change95.9% skill match
Security Guards and Passenger Attendants share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Passenger Attendants is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$37,720
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Psychiatric AidesCareer Change96% skill match
Security Guards and Psychiatric Aides share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Psychiatric Aides is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 18% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$44,910
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Bus Drivers, SchoolCareer Change92.7% skill match
Security Guards and Bus Drivers, School share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Bus Drivers, School is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 26% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$47,920
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Driver/Sales WorkersCareer Change94.8% skill match
Security Guards and Driver/Sales Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Driver/Sales Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$38,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceCareer Change93.7% skill match
Security Guards and Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$38,630
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Amusement and Recreation AttendantsCareer Change94.6% skill match
Security Guards and Amusement and Recreation Attendants share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Amusement and Recreation Attendants is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$32,150
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesCareer Change93.2% skill match
Security Guards and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 69% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$64,400
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesCareer Change94% skill match
Security Guards and Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 49% higher.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$56,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Parking AttendantsCareer Change93% skill match
Security Guards and Parking Attendants share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Parking Attendants is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 8% lower.
Current median salary
$38,020
Target median salary
$35,150
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.