Armed Protective Security Officer Salary in the United States

How much does an Armed Protective Security Officer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Armed Protective Security Officer in the United States is $48,646 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

However, an Armed Protective Security Officer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $58,122
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,542 to $53,606
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,716
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View as table View as graph 25% $45,542 10% $42,716 90% $58,122 75% $53,606 $48,646 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Armed Protective Security Officer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $53,606 $4,467 $1,031 $26
Average $48,646 $4,054 $935 $23
25th Percentile $45,542 $3,795 $876 $22
Check out Armed Protective Security Officer Job Openings in the United States
Armed Security Officer

Securitas - SAINT PAUL, MN

Security Officer Armed Patrol

Allied Universal - READING, PA

Security Officer Armed Hospital Evenings

Allied Universal - READING, PA

Security Officer Armed Hospital Weekends

Allied Universal - READING, PA

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Key Factors That Influence Armed Protective Security Officer Salaries

An Armed Protective Security Officer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Armed Protective Security Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Armed Protective Security Officer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $46,934
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $47,158
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $47,967
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $50,105
  • Expert (over 8 years): $51,053
Levels Salary
Entry Level Armed Protective Security Officer$46,934
Intermediate Level Armed Protective Security Officer$47,158
Senior Level Armed Protective Security Officer$47,967
Specialist Level Armed Protective Security Officer$50,105
Expert Level Armed Protective Security Officer$51,053
$46,934 0 yr
$47,158 < 2 yrs
$47,967 2-4 yrs
$50,105 5-8 yrs
$51,053 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Armed Protective Security Officer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Armed Protective Security Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $53,861.
  • California: $53,656.
  • Massachusetts: $52,941.

Top Paying Cities for Armed Protective Security Officers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $61,357
  • San Francisco: $60,754
  • Oakland: $59,406

What Skills Can Increase an Armed Protective Security Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 26.84% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 4.25% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
  • CCTV (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings):
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 26.84%
First Aid 4.25%
CCTV 1.47%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Armed Protective Security Officer's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
 $53,510
10%
Diversity and Inclusion
 $51,564
6%
Problem Solving
 $51,078
5%
Safety Training
 $50,105
3%
Written Communication
 $49,619
2%
Innovation
 $49,619
2%
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How Education impacts an Armed Protective Security Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Armed Protective Security Officers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Armed Protective Security Officer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $45,730 and $48,921).

Armed Protective Security Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Armed Protective Security Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 51.6%
Associates 29.0%
Bachelors 12.9%
Masters 4.3%
Doctorate 1.1%
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Armed Protective Security Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Armed Protective Security Officer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$45,542
Average $48,646/year
$53,606
$3,795
Average $4,054/month
$4,467
$876
Average $935/week
$1,031
$22
Average $23/hour
$26
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $53,606 $4,467 $1,031 $26
Average $48,646 $4,054 $935 $23
25th Percentile $45,542 $3,795 $876 $22

Salaries of jobs related to Armed Protective Security Officer

Salary Trends for Armed Protective Security Officer

Salaries for an Armed Protective Security Officer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $42,813 in 2023 to around $41,986 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Armed Protective Security Officer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Armed Protective Security Officer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,813
2024
$42,975
2025
$41,986
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,813
2024 $42,975
2025 $41,986
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Armed Protective Security Officer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Armed Protective Security Officer

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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