How the national numbers differ
1Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers has the edge on median pay
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is at $76,210, compared with $38,020 for Security Guards.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers has the edge on projected growth
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is at 3.5% projected growth, compared with 0.9% projected growth for Security Guards.
Typical preparation differs.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Security Guards: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.
Security Guards has the edge on annual openings
Security Guards is at 156,000 annual openings, compared with 51,500 annual openings for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers.
68/ 100Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
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Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.
Detailed evidence
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers vs Security Guards
| Dimension | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | Security Guards |
|---|
| Median pay (2025) | $76,210 | $38,020 |
|---|
| Pay percentile | 66.4 percentile | 8.3 percentile |
|---|
| Projected growth (2025–2035) | 3.5% | 0.9% |
|---|
| Annual openings (2025–2035) | 51,500 | 156,000 |
|---|
| 2025 employment | 693,200 | 1,294,300 |
|---|
| How you qualify | High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing | High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing |
| O*NET preparation group | Job Zone 3 | Job Zone 2 |
| Related work experience | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. |
| On-the-job training | More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. | One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. |
The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.
