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What is an armed guard and how to become one
An armed guard protects property, people, or assets using weapons. They may work for private security firms, government agencies, or be self-employed. Their duties include monitoring access, patrolling the premises, responding to emergencies, and using their weapon to defend themselves or others if necessary. They must also communicate effectively with law enforcement and security personnel. Armed guards undergo extensive training and background checks before being licensed to carry a weapon while on duty.
Avg. Salary $43,189
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 3%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.58%
Asian 6.07%
Black or African American 11.73%
Hispanic or Latino 21.23%
Unknown 5.29%
White 54.09%
Genderfemale 15.46%
male 84.54%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being an Armed Guard?
Pros
Good salary and benefits
Job security
Opportunities for overtime pay
Variety of work environments (e.g. banks, government buildings, concerts)
Potential for travel or relocation
Cons
Risk of injury or death in the line of duty
Intense scrutiny from supervisors and the public
Potential for legal repercussions if force is used improperly
Possibility of encountering dangerous individuals or situations
Emotional toll of witnessing crime and violence on a regular basis
Newest jobs for Armed Guard in Columbus, OH
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Armed Guard career paths
Key steps to become an armed guard
Explore armed guard education requirements
Start to develop specific armed guard skills
Skills 
Percentages Patrol 21.98% Medical Emergencies 11.04% National Security 8.19% Emergency Situations 7.27% Law Enforcement 6.64% Complete relevant armed guard training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New armed guards learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an armed guard based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real armed guard resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming an licensed armed guard usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you don't need to pass an exam to become a licensed armed guard in most of states. 30 states require armed guards to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License Url Alabama - - Licensed Personal Security Officer Maryland - - GUARDS Alaska Specific course required - Security Guard Arkansas Specific course required State exam required Private Security Officer (PSO) California Specific course required State exam required Security Guard Registration Research armed guard duties and responsibilities
- Check for safety violations such as proper PPE and H2S monitors.
- Certify cpr and a first aid, enforce rest area rules, conduct incident reports and crime.
- Allow customers and deliveries in and out of Menards' yard.
- Receive, inventory, and issuing of ammunition to bases and unit throughout the country.
Prepare your armed guard resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your armed guard resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an armed guard resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Armed Guard Resume templates
Build a professional Armed Guard resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Armed Guard resume.
Apply for armed guard jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an armed guard job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Armed Guard Job
Are you an Armed Guard?
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Average armed guard salary
The average Armed Guard salary in the United States is $43,189 per year or $21 per hour. Armed guard salaries range between $31,000 and $59,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do armed guards rate their job?
Armed Guard reviews
Meeting a lot of different people have helped people in this job
The pay is not worth what you have to do sometimes
Protecting people and the property where I’m sign at.
There’s nothing about the officer that I don’t like
Yes because is a job that deal with helping people that your help and there's a wonderful happiness while working properly and helping people at the sometime.
One sometimes people will not like you but they need a help from you but to me a don't call it anything now because I know the status of the job even in a building I have work in that area as a security guard department with my license from United Arab Emirates.
Updated January 8, 2025
