Security Guards
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
AI Impact Summary
Security Guards faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 38/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 76% of all analyzed occupations. Of 14 analyzed tasks, 4 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Security Guards skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path
by Pluralsight
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
14 tasks analyzed
Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.
Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.
Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.
Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, or machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering.
Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.
Escort or drive motor vehicle to transport individuals to specified locations or to provide personal protection.
Monitor and adjust controls that regulate building systems, such as air conditioning, furnace, or boiler.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Answer alarms and investigate disturbances. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 5% | |
| Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 15% | |
| Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 10% | |
| Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas. | 25.3Observed | 43.1% | 8% | |
| Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 20% | |
| Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 2% | |
| Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 15% | |
| Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary. | 5Estimated | 17.0% | 5% | |
| Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, or machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering. | 33.83Observed | 46.5% | 4% | |
| Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed. | 30.27Observed | 61.3% | 5% | |
| Escort or drive motor vehicle to transport individuals to specified locations or to provide personal protection. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 2% | |
| Monitor and adjust controls that regulate building systems, such as air conditioning, furnace, or boiler. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 26.0%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$38,370
per year
Mean Wage
$42,890
per year
Employment
1.2M
workers
Wage Range
$29,800 - $59,580
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Security Guards professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change