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Boston Career Explorer

Protective Service

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards.

Also called: Campus Safety Chief, Public Safety Manager, Public Safety Supervisor, Security Chief, Security Director, Security Guard Supervisor

Median pay in Greater Boston
$57,890
$27.83/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,600
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+4.1%
150 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than 5 years of related work experience

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$48,280$49,590$57,890$72,940$81,610

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Investigate disturbances on the premises, such as security alarms, altercations, and suspicious activity.
  • Patrol the premises to prevent or detect intrusion, protect property, or preserve order.
  • Monitor and authorize entry of employees, visitors, or other persons.
  • Secure entrances and exits by locking doors and gates.
  • Write reports documenting observations made while on patrol.
  • Monitor the behavior of security employees to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines, or procedures.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure45 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • GPTs-are-GPTs 45

Observed AI use today: Not published (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, so AI tools may help with some tasks but will not replace the hands-on work. Tools can help with writing patrol reports and tracking who comes and goes. Investigating alarms and altercations, patrolling, and securing doors still rely on people. Federal projections note that fewer security guards means fewer supervisors needed, so growth may be modest (4.1% in Massachusetts).

Likely to change

  • Writing and organizing patrol reports
  • Tracking and authorizing entry of visitors

Still relies on people

  • Responding to alarms, altercations, and suspicious activity
  • Patrolling and securing doors and gates in person

What federal projections say

“Demand change - share decreases as fewer security guards require proportionately fewer first-line supervisors.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

    Your experience investigating disturbances, patrolling, and keeping order carries over. Patrol officers earn a $78,180 Boston median and need moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$20,290 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.7%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

    Supervising crews, setting work standards, and enforcing safety carry over. This role has a $68,100 Boston median and no on-the-job training requirement.

    Pay difference
    +$10,210 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +3.0%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Firefighters

    Emergency response and safety skills carry over. Firefighting has a $73,990 Boston median, though it needs a postsecondary award and long-term training.

    Pay difference
    +$16,100 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.4%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

1 program near Boston (plus 1 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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