Security Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Security Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Security Operator in the United States is $47,735 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

However, a Security Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $56,190
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,523 to $52,161
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,599
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered HR
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $44,523 10% $41,599 90% $56,190 75% $52,161 $47,735 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Security Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $52,161 $4,347 $1,003 $25
Average $47,735 $3,978 $918 $23
25th Percentile $44,523 $3,710 $856 $21
Check out Security Operator Job Openings in the United States
Security Console Operator

Loyal Source Government Services - PORTSMOUTH, VA

Radar Operator

Indotronix International Corp - MOORESTOWN, NJ

RADAR Operator

Innova Solutions, Inc. - MARLBOROUGH, MA

Test Operator

Butler Aerospace & Defense - MCKINNEY, TX

Search More Security Operator Jobs in the United States
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Security Operator Salaries

A Security Operator'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 Security Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Security Operator'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): $46,620
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $46,843
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $47,646
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $49,769
  • Expert (over 8 years): $50,711
Levels Salary
Entry Level Security Operator$46,620
Intermediate Level Security Operator$46,843
Senior Level Security Operator$47,646
Specialist Level Security Operator$49,769
Expert Level Security Operator$50,711
$46,620 0 yr
$46,843 < 2 yrs
$47,646 2-4 yrs
$49,769 5-8 yrs
$50,711 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Security Operator 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 Security Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $52,852.
  • California: $52,652.
  • Massachusetts: $51,950.

Top Paying Cities for Security Operators

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: $60,208
  • San Francisco: $59,616
  • Oakland: $58,294

What Skills Can Increase a Security Operator'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 a Security Operator'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
 $52,508
10%
Diversity and Inclusion
 $50,599
6%
Problem Solving
 $50,122
5%
Safety Training
 $49,167
3%
Written Communication
 $48,690
2%
Innovation
 $48,690
2%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Security Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Security Operators 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 a Security Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $45,730 and $48,921).

Security Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Security Operator
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%
view as graph

Security Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Security Operator'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
$44,523
Average $47,735/year
$52,161
$3,710
Average $3,978/month
$4,347
$856
Average $918/week
$1,003
$21
Average $23/hour
$25
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $52,161 $4,347 $1,003 $25
Average $47,735 $3,978 $918 $23
25th Percentile $44,523 $3,710 $856 $21

Salaries of jobs related to Security Operator

Salary Trends for Security Operator

Salaries for a Security Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $42,527 in 2023 to around $41,705 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Security Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Security Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,527
2024
$42,688
2025
$41,705
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,527
2024 $42,688
2025 $41,705
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Security Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Security Operator

Here are companies hiring for Security Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Security Operator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Security Operator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst