Security Guards
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Calculated automation risk
Moderate Risk (41-60%): Occupations with a moderate risk of automation usually involve routine tasks but still require some human judgment and interaction.
More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.
User poll
Our visitors have voted they are unsure if this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 42% chance of automation.
What do you think the risk of automation is?
What is the likelihood that Security Guards will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?
Sentiment
The following graph is included wherever there is a substantial amount of votes to render meaningful data. These visual representations display user poll results over time, providing a significant indication of sentiment trends.
Sentiment over time (yearly)
Growth
The number of 'Security Guards' job openings is expected to rise 2.2% by 2033
Total employment, and estimated job openings
Updated projections are due 09-2024.
Wages
In 2023, the median annual wage for 'Security Guards' was $37,070, or $17 per hour
'Security Guards' were paid 22.9% lower than the national median wage, which stood at $48,060
Wages over time
Volume
As of 2023 there were 1,202,940 people employed as 'Security Guards' within the United States.
This represents around 0.8% of the employed workforce across the country
Put another way, around 1 in 126 people are employed as 'Security Guards'.
Job description
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
SOC Code: 33-9032.00
Resources
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Comments
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Automated security cameras don't stop people stealing from self checkouts.
Even in static position roles I.E. Manned security boothes/checkpoints, security agents are expected to fulfill multiple roles (First aid, emergency response, deterrant, etc.). In more active roles, this is also compounded by the need for mobility and flexibility of roles; at one moment a person may be directing foot traffic and then asked to re-position and hand out water at the pit barrier or assist in the escort of persons off the premises.
Summary - Security guards won't be replaced any time soon as it would take simply far too many automated systems and be far more expensive only to leave members of the public with an impersonal machine who cannot as easily respond to their needs in the moment.
However, low-skill security, such as low-paying observe-and-report jobs, will be automated.
I could see alarm systems and maybe security cameras replacing guards in some businesses, but not in 90% of places. Most robbers or thieves don't want to kill anyone and, for that reason, they will not get rid of security guards.
Human guards create an extra barrier that makes these crimes much more difficult to get away with.
This will probably happen sooner than 20 years. Especially once they get self driving cars scalable and mass adopted.
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