Security Guards and Gaming Surveillance Officers Occupational Outlook Handbook U

Security Guards and Gaming Surveillance Officers. Please enable javascript to play this video. What Security Guards and Gaming Surveillance Officers Do. Security guards and gaming surveillance officers patrol and protect property against theft, vandalism, and other illegal activity. Work Environment. Security guards work in a wide variety of places, including public buildings, retail stores, and office buildings. Gaming surveillance officers work mostly in casino observation rooms, using audio and video equipment. Because many buildings and casinos are open 24 hours a day, security guards and officers must often work around the clock. How to Become a Security Guard or Gaming Surveillance Officer. Most security guard jobs require a high school diploma. Gaming surveillance officers may need experience with security and video surveillance, depending upon their work assignment. Most states require guards to be registered with the state, especially if they carry a firearm. The median annual wage for gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators was $33,260 in May 2017. The median annual wage for security guards was $26,900 in May 2017. Job Outlook. Overall employment of security guards and gaming surveillance officers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Overall job opportunities should be excellent, especially for security guards. State & Area Data. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for security guards and gaming surveillance officers. Similar Occupations. Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of security guards and gaming surveillance officers with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET. Learn more about security guards and gaming surveillance officers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. What Security Guards and Gaming Surveillance Officers Do About this section. Security guards and gaming surveillance officers patrol and protect property against theft, vandalism, and other illegal activity. Security guards and gaming surveillance officers typically do the following: Enforce laws and protect an employer’s property Monitor alarms and closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras Respond to emergencies Control building access for employees and visitors Conduct security checks over a specified area Write reports on what they observed while on duty Detain violators. Guards and officers must remain alert, looking out for anything unusual. In an emergency, they are required to call for assistance from police, fire, or ambulance services. Some security guards are armed. A security guard’s responsibilities vary from one employer to another. In retail stores, guards protect people, merchandise, money, and equipment. They may work with undercover store detectives to prevent theft by customers and employees, detain shoplifting suspects until the police arrive, and patrol parking lots. In offices and factories, security guards protect workers and equipment and check the credentials of people and vehicles entering and leaving the premises. Security guards work in many other environments, because they work wherever people and assets need to be protected. Security guards , also called security officers, protect property, enforce rules on the property, and deter criminal activity. Some guards are assigned a stationary position from which they monitor alarms or surveillance cameras. Other guards are assigned a patrol area where they conduct security checks. Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators act as security agents for casinos. Using audio and video equipment in an observation room, they watch casino operations for suspicious activities, such as cheating and theft, and monitor compliance with rules, regulations, and laws. They maintain and organize recordings from security cameras, which are sometimes used as evidence in police investigations. Work Environment About this section. Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators held about 10,700 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators were as follows: