With 1,194,300 security guards employed in the US in May 2023, the industry is far bigger than most people assume, and it is still expanding. From wages and union membership to technology adoption and global market growth, the picture gets more telling fast. If you have ever wondered who fills these posts and how fast the workforce is changing, the stats across regions and roles raise more questions than they answer.
Key Takeaways
- In May 2023, there were 1,194,300 security guards employed in the US
- Security guards employment in the US grew by 6% from 2022 to 2023
- California had 167,890 security guards employed in 2023, the highest in US
- US security services industry revenue per employee averaged $95,000 in 2023
- Allied Universal's annual revenue reached $18 billion in 2023 from security services
- Securitas AB reported SEK 130 billion in revenue for 2023
- 65% of security companies adopted AI surveillance by 2023
- Biometric access control usage grew 25% in security firms 2023
- Remote video monitoring adopted by 55% of US security providers in 2023
- The global private security services market size was valued at USD 248.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 384.8 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.5%
- The U.S. security services industry market size reached $57.2 billion in 2023
- North America holds the largest share of the global security services market at 38.5% in 2023
- 29.7% of US security guards are Hispanic or Latino in 2023
- 12.4% of security guards in US are Black or African American 2023
- Average years of experience for US security supervisors is 8.2 years in 2023
In the US, 1.19 million security guards earn about $17.81 per hour as the workforce grows 6% since 2022.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Statistics30 stats
01
In May 2023, there were 1,194,300 security guards employed in the US
02
Security guards employment in the US grew by 6% from 2022 to 2023
03
California had 167,890 security guards employed in 2023, the highest in US
04
The average hourly wage for security guards in US was $17.81in 2023
05
Globally, there are over 20 million private security personnel as of 2023
06
In the UK, 350,000 people work in private security in 2023
07
Texas employed 92,450 security guards in 2023
08
Entry-level security guards in US have median annual wage of $37,070in 2023
09
India has over 7.5 million private security guards in 2023
10
New York state had 78,210 security guards in 2023
11
Female security guards make up 22.5% of the US workforce in 2023
12
Australia has 120,000 licensed security officers in 2023
13
Florida employed 71,340 security guards in 2023
14
The occupation of security guards is projected to add 91,600 jobs in US by 2032
15
Brazil has approximately 600,000 private security professionals in 2023
16
Illinois had 48,920 security guards in 2023
17
15.6% of US security guards were union members in 2023
18
Canada employs about 100,000 security guards in 2023
19
Pennsylvania state had 42,110 security guards in 2023
20
Average age of US security guards is 42 years in 2023
21
South Africa has over 550,000 registered security officers in 2023
22
Ohio employed 37,450 security guards in 2023
23
68% of security guards in US have high school diploma or equivalent in 2023
24
Germany has 250,000 security personnel in 2023
25
Michigan had 31,220 security guards in 2023
26
Turnover rate in US security guard industry averages 100-150% annually
27
France employs 170,000 private security agents in 2023
28
Georgia state had 30,890 security guards in 2023
29
24% of US security guards are part-time workers in 2023
30
Japan has 1.2 million security guards in 2023
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
The world is increasingly guarded by a vast army of watchful eyes—over 20 million strong globally—whose ranks are swelling in the US and beyond, even as they face notoriously high turnover and modest wages that suggest we value protection but perhaps not always the protectors themselves.
02 · Category
Financial Metrics30 stats
01
US security services industry revenue per employee averaged $95,000in 2023
02
Allied Universal's annual revenue reached $18 billion in 2023 from security services
03
Securitas AB reported SEK 130 billion in revenue for 2023
04
G4S global revenue was £7.5 billion in 2023 before acquisition
05
US security guard services industry profit margin averaged 5.2% in 2023
06
Prosegur's 2023 revenue hit €10.2 billion
07
The top 5 security firms account for 25% of US industry revenue in 2023
08
UK security industry average EBITDA margin is 8.1% in 2023
09
Loomis AB revenue from security services was SEK 28 billion in 2023
10
Industry cost structure shows wages as 55% of revenue in US security guards 2023
11
SIS India's revenue grew to INR 14,000 crore in FY2023
12
Global security services market gross margin averages 25-30% in 2023
13
GardaWorld revenue reached CAD 9.3 billion in 2023
14
US industry enterprises number 12,500 with average revenue $4.6 million each in 2023
15
Brink's Company reported $4.9 billion revenue in 2023
16
Security services M&A deals totaled $15 billion globally in 2023
17
Australian security industry profit averaged 6.5% margin in 2023
18
Constellis revenue was $2.5 billion in 2023
19
Labor costs represent 60% of total expenses in global security firms 2023
20
Canada's security services profit margin is 4.8% average in 2023
21
Top 50 global security firms total revenue exceeded $100 billion in 2023
22
US security industry insurance costs average 3% of revenue in 2023
23
Kroll Inc. revenue from security services $2.8 billion in 2023
24
Industry capital intensity ratio is 2.1% in US security guards 2023
25
Securitas North America revenue $8.5 billion in 2023
26
Global security outsourcing saves clients 20-30% on in-house costs
27
UK security firms average revenue per employee £45,000 in 2023
28
Allied Universal EBITDA estimated at $1.2 billion in 2023
29
Brazilian security industry average billing per guard BRL 120,000 annually 2023
30
42% of US security firms saw revenue growth over 5% in 2023
Interpretation
Financial Metrics Interpretation
While these titans of security are posting staggering global revenues, the industry's razor-thin profit margins reveal a stark truth: this is a business built on immense human labor, where even billions in billings translate into just pennies of profit per guard.
03 · Category
Industry Trends27 stats
01
65% of security companies adopted AI surveillance by 2023
02
Biometric access control usage grew 25% in security firms 2023
03
Remote video monitoring adopted by 55% of US security providers in 2023
04
Drone usage for perimeter security increased 40% globally 2023
05
72% of security managers prioritize cybersecurity integration in physical security 2023
06
Contactless screening tech implemented in 48% of event security 2023
07
Predictive analytics tools used by 35% of large security firms in 2023
08
Mobile patrol apps adopted by 62% of mid-sized security companies 2023
09
Zero-trust security models applied in 28% of corporate security 2023
10
Robotic guard dogs deployed in 15% of high-risk sites globally 2023
11
ESG compliance became top priority for 51% of security providers 2023
12
Behavioral analytics software usage up 33% in retail security 2023
13
Cloud-based security management systems reached 70% adoption 2023
14
Gun detection AI systems installed in 22% of US schools via security 2023
15
Sustainable security practices adopted by 39% of European firms 2023
16
VR training for security guards used by 26% of large firms 2023
17
Multi-factor authentication standard in 85% of security access 2023
18
Autonomous patrol robots market grew 50% in deployments 2023
19
Data privacy compliance (GDPR/CCPA) focus for 67% of firms 2023
20
Hybrid human-AI guarding models in 44% of warehouses 2023
21
Facial recognition banned in 12 US states but used in 31% firms 2023
22
IoT device security vulnerabilities addressed by 58% providers 2023
23
Post-COVID hygiene monitoring tech in 37% public venues security 2023
24
Blockchain for incident logging trialed by 19% advanced firms 2023
25
5G-enabled real-time video analytics in 41% urban security 2023
26
Diversity training mandatory in 53% US security companies 2023
27
Edge computing for faster alerts in 49% systems 2023
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
The security industry has become a bustling trade fair for both dystopian gadgetry and essential human upgrades, proving that while we may trust robots to patrol our perimeters, we still need humans to ensure they’re doing so ethically and without getting hacked.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size and Growth30 stats
01
The global private security services market size was valued at USD 248.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 384.8 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.5%
02
The U.S. security services industry market size reached $57.2 billion in 2023
03
North America holds the largest share of the global security services market at 38.5% in 2023
04
The manned guarding segment accounted for 57% of the global security services market revenue in 2022
05
Asia Pacific security services market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030
06
U.S. security guard services market revenue grew by 4.1% in 2023 to reach $28.5 billion
07
The global security services market is forecasted to reach $340 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 5.8%
08
Europe private security market was valued at €45.2 billion in 2022
09
The U.S. market for security guards and patrol services is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032
10
India's private security industry market size was INR 1.2 trillion in 2023
11
The security services market in the Middle East & Africa is expected to grow at 7.1% CAGR through 2027
12
U.K. security services industry revenue reached £8.5 billion in 2023
13
Global electronic security market size was $32.4 billion in 2023, complementing manned guarding
14
Brazil's private security market valued at BRL 45 billion in 2022
15
The aviation security services segment is projected to grow at 7.8% CAGR globally
16
China's security services market reached CNY 500 billion in 2023
17
Australia security industry market size was AUD 12.4 billion in 2023
18
The retail security services market globally is valued at $15.2 billion in 2023
19
South Korea private security market size hit KRW 10 trillion in 2022
20
Canada security services industry revenue was CAD 9.8 billion in 2023
21
The global cash-in-transit security market size was $2.5 billion in 2023
22
Germany's security services market valued at €12.3 billion in 2023
23
Mexico private security industry size reached MXN 250 billion in 2022
24
The healthcare security services market is expected to reach $6.8 billion by 2030
25
France security market revenue was €9.1 billion in 2023
26
The energy & utilities security services segment grows at 6.9% CAGR
27
Japan's private security market size was JPY 2.1 trillion in 2023
28
South Africa security services market valued at ZAR 50 billion in 2023
29
The global event security services market size was $4.2 billion in 2023
30
Spain's private security sector revenue hit €5.6 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
Despite the steady march of technology, the world is clearly investing heavily in the timeless reassurance of a human presence, as evidenced by the fact that the global private security industry, a quarter-trillion-dollar behemoth still dominated by manned guarding, is on a brisk growth trajectory everywhere from established North American markets to the booming economies of Asia-Pacific.
05 · Category
Workforce Demographics30 stats
01
29.7% of US security guards are Hispanic or Latino in 2023
02
12.4% of security guards in US are Black or African American 2023
03
Average years of experience for US security supervisors is 8.2 years in 2023
04
61.2% of US security guards are aged 25-54 in 2023
05
Women represent 18% of security officers in Australia 2023
06
7.1% of US security guards have bachelor's degree or higher 2023
07
Veterans make up 15% of US private security workforce 2023
08
In UK, 14% of security guards are female 2023
09
45% of US security guards are over 40 years old in 2023
10
Immigrants comprise 25% of security workforce in Canada 2023
11
Language skills: 22% of US guards bilingual (Spanish-English) 2023
12
In India, 90% of security guards from rural backgrounds 2023
13
Disability employment in US security is 4.2% 2023
14
33% of security managers in US have military background 2023
15
Youth (under 25) represent 16% of entry-level guards US 2023
16
In South Africa, 60% of security guards have matriculation or less 2023
17
LGBTQ+ representation in security estimated at 8% in US 2023
18
52% of US security guards work full-time year-round 2023
19
In Germany, average security guard age is 44 years 2023
20
Certification rate among US guards is 45% (SIA or ASIS) 2023
21
Rural-urban split: 35% urban guards in India 2023
22
11% of US security workforce aged 55+ in 2023
23
Brazil security guards 70% male under 35 2023
24
Multilingual guards (3+ languages) 12% in EU security 2023
25
Unionized guards 20% in public contracts US 2023
26
In Japan, 85% security guards male 2023
27
Health issues: 28% guards report chronic back pain US 2023
28
Gig economy guards (freelance) 18% in US 2023
29
Indigenous representation 3% in Australian security 2023
30
40% of US guards have 5+ years tenure 2023
Interpretation
Workforce Demographics Interpretation
While the security industry is a robust and experienced mosaic of veterans, bilingual communicators, and dedicated lifers, it's also a stark reflection of global socioeconomic patterns, where opportunity often precedes credential and physical toll outweighs educational requirement.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Security Guard Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/security-guard-industry-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Security Guard Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/security-guard-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Security Guard Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/security-guard-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
70 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level