How to become a Security Management Specialist
Official title: Security Management Specialists
Also called: Physical Security Engineer, Physical Security Specialist, Security Advisor, Security Analyst, Security and Workplace Violence Consultant, Security Consultant, Security Management Consultant, Security Specialist
Conduct security assessments for organizations, and design security systems and processes. May specialize in areas such as physical security or the safety of employees and facilities.
Main tasks
- Assess the nature and level of physical security threats so that the scope of the problem can be determined.
- Respond to emergency situations on an on-call basis.
- Recommend improvements in security systems or procedures.
- Perform risk analyses so that appropriate countermeasures can be developed.
- Inspect physical security design features, installations, or programs to ensure compliance with applicable standards or regulations.
- Conduct security audits to identify potential vulnerabilities related to physical security or staff safety.
- Design security policies, programs, or practices to ensure adequate security relating to alarm response, access card use, and other security needs.
- Test security measures for final acceptance and implement or provide procedures for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the measures.
How to become one
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Ways in
- College: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $83,050 a year The middle half earn $62,640 to $114,010.
- About 1,157,600 people work in this job now, and about 1,202,300 are projected by 2035. (+3.9%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Security Management Specialist?
Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees.
How much does a Security Management Specialist earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $83,050 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $62,640 to $114,010.
Is a Security Management Specialist a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 1,157,600 to about 1,202,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Security Management Specialist?
Not always. 57% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees.
Will AI change the work of a Security Management Specialist?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.