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Local security industry report
Security work in
Pennsylvania
Local pay, training and the steps towards your next role.
Research checked
Pennsylvania's security-business route involves county-court licensing under the Private Detective Act. Ordinary unarmed employees should verify employer, county, and city requirements for their post. Compare Pennsylvania pay, the local training route and the size of the guarding-and-patrol workplace base below. Search employer portals by your city to find a suitable site and shift.
Your local training routeThe industry at a glance
Guarding and patrol workplaces
316employer establishmentsReference period: 2023
Pennsylvania only. NAICS 561612, Security Guards and Patrol Services, all legal forms (LFO -), FIPS 42. One company can operate multiple workplaces. Businesses without employees and in-house security teams in other industries are outside this industry count.
U.S. Census Bureau: County Business Patterns 2023, state dataMedian hourly security-guard pay
17.81USD per hourReference period: May 2025
Pennsylvania: statewide Security Guards occupation, SOC 33-9032, across industries and experience levels. Gross pay before deductions; local vacancies can pay differently.
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, published through O*NET OnLineMedian annual security-guard pay
37,050USD per yearReference period: May 2025
Pennsylvania: statewide Security Guards occupation, SOC 33-9032, across industries and experience levels. Gross pay before deductions; local vacancies can pay differently. Annual pay is an annualised estimate.
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, published through O*NET OnLineMonthly equivalent of annual median
3,087.5USD per monthReference period: May 2025
Pennsylvania: calculated as the published annual median divided by 12. This planning estimate assumes the annualised wage basis and is gross, before tax and deductions. Actual hours and monthly earnings vary.
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, published through O*NET OnLineDistinct security companies
No verified figureReference period: Not verified
A current unique-company total for Pennsylvania has not been verified. The workplace figure counts employer establishments and can include multiple locations of the same business.
U.S. Census Bureau: County Business Patterns 2023, state dataHow to read this report
Industry counts and wages describe different populations. The business figure counts employer establishments where available. Wages describe an occupation across employers. Each monthly illustration shows its calculation and assumptions.
Your local training route
Confirm training before assignment and any later deadlines. Philadelphia's covered unarmed employees have city training requirements effective 2026-03-01, including initial and annual training.
Official authority and local guidance
County Court of Common Pleas; relevant local authorityLicensing guidance checked
Training providers to explore
We have not verified a training-provider example for this region. Use the official authority’s guidance to confirm accepted training for your role.
Employers to explore
These official recruitment portals let you search by town or region. Check that an employer has a suitable local vacancy before applying. The list is unranked.
Allied Universal
National recruitment directory. Select Pennsylvania or your town to check availability. A local vacancy or employer presence has not been confirmed in this report.
Search these job titles
- Security Officer
- Security Officer / Access Control
- Event Security
Online applications and local branch applications are available. The recruitment team may invite applicants to assessments, telephone screening or interviews.
Application route
- Choose a local opening and select Apply Now.
- Create an email-based profile and complete the application.
- Check email or text for next steps.
Securitas USA
National recruitment directory. Select Pennsylvania or your town to check availability. A local vacancy or employer presence has not been confirmed in this report.
Search these job titles
- Security Officer
- Security Guard
The published recruitment process includes an online application, interviews and background checks. Read each vacancy for site and state requirements.
Application route
- Open Explore Job Opportunities.
- Select the location and vacancy.
- Submit the application and follow interview instructions.
GardaWorld Security USA
National recruitment directory. Select Pennsylvania or your town to check availability. A local vacancy or employer presence has not been confirmed in this report.
Search these job titles
- Concierge Security Officer
- Response Security Officer
- Surveillance Security Officer
Its US search can filter location, job family and category, including officer, supervisor and flexible assignments.
Application route
- Search by city, state or ZIP.
- Read the duties and requirements.
- Select View Details & Apply and follow the application.
Prosegur USA
National recruitment directory. Select Pennsylvania or your town to check availability. A local vacancy or employer presence has not been confirmed in this report.
Search these job titles
- Unarmed Security Officer
- Armed Security Officer
- Security Operations Center Officer
The US careers page links directly to Prosegur’s applicant system. Its listings cover different sites and armed or unarmed roles.
Application route
- Open Explore Career Opportunities.
- Choose a job title and location.
- Review the requirements and use the application option.
How hiring works
Use this as a starting point. Requirements depend on the role, employer and work location. Check the current vacancy and regulator before applying or paying for training.
Become a security guardConfirm the employer's authority
Ask which county-court license covers the agency and what employee screening and paperwork apply.
View sourceCheck your location
For Philadelphia, confirm coverage under Chapter 9-6700 and the recognized training program your employer will arrange.
View sourceComplete screening and induction
Provide required disclosures and learn site procedures before your first assignment.
View sourceTrack later training
Ask for applicable initial-course deadlines and the ongoing refresher schedule.
View source
Sources & research notes
- Licensing guidance was last checked on 2026-09-16. This state guide has limited coverage; confirm the current local authority and role-specific route before enrolling.
- The workplace count is a 2023 business-statistics snapshot. It measures establishments in the guarding and patrol industry; the wage figures measure a wider occupation across industries.
- Recruitment links are unranked national search routes. Confirm local vacancies, pay, shifts and employer presence on the official vacancy page.
- Training examples come from the existing checked directory. Availability, tuition and licence status require confirmation before payment.
External sources may be in a different language.
- Pennsylvania security business guidance
- Philadelphia enacted security training ordinance
- Pennsylvania school security requirements
- U.S. Census Bureau: County Business Patterns 2023, state data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, published through O*NET OnLine
- Allied Universal recruitment
- Securitas USA recruitment
- GardaWorld Security USA recruitment
- Prosegur USA recruitment
Turn your research into a next step.
Check the local entry route, then compare vacancies and employer requirements.