# Security Managers

> Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-managers
- SOC code: 11-3013.01
- Career family: Management
- Median annual pay: $106,660 (10th percentile $64,480, 90th percentile $176,120)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.6%
- Openings a year: 14,200
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Facilities managers".

## Interest profile (code ECI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 40 |
| Investigative (I) | 45 |
| Artistic (A) | 5 |
| Social (S) | 29 |
| Enterprising (E) | 77 |
| Conventional (C) | 74 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 91/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 86/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Developing and Building Teams (importance 85/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 85/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 83/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 81/100)
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (importance 81/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 81/100)
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (importance 80/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Coordination, Management of Personnel Resources

## Knowledge

Public Safety and Security, English Language, Law and Government, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Personnel and Human Resources, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Psychology, Telecommunications

## Also called

Chief Security Officer (CSO), Cloud Security Manager, Corporate Physical Security Supervisor, Corporate Security Director, Corporate Security Manager, Global Security Manager, Industrial Security Specialist, Internal Security Manager, IS Security Manager (Information Systems Security Manager), Judicial Office Security Director

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5107) (CIP 5107, 1,585 colleges)
- [Business/Commerce, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5201) (CIP 5201, 975 colleges)
- [Hospitality Administration/Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5209) (CIP 5209, 641 colleges)
- [Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4604) (CIP 4604, 319 colleges)
- [Engineering-Related Fields](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1515) (CIP 1515, 230 colleges)
- [Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3103) (CIP 3103, 169 colleges)
- [Historic Preservation and Conservation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3012) (CIP 3012, 86 colleges)
- Housing and Human Environments (CIP 1906, 38 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $97,419 | $160,783 | $19,000 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $96,806 | $144,654 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $94,811 | $144,599 | $10,656 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $143,686 | $11,000 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $108,743 | $136,806 | $19,250 |
| [Emory University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $87,830 | $136,731 | $15,000 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $88,182 | $135,874 | $9,250 |
| [Baylor University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/baylor-university-194) | Business/Commerce, General | $75,807 | $124,434 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Security Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-management-specialists): $83,050 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-security-workers): $55,940 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Security Guards](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-guards): $38,020 median pay
- [Emergency Management Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/emergency-management-directors): $93,330 median pay
- [Management Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/management-analysts): $101,860 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.