Security Managers: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of security managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for security managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of security managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for security managers.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Security Managers?

Do security managers need a degree? What kind of experience do security managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for security managers to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Security Managers

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of security managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 38% of positions. In 27% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 27% of postings no education level was listed.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Security Managers

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for security managers. In 35% of job postings for Security Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 13% of job postings for security managers.

What Kind of Degree Do Security Managers Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for security managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 6 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective security managers, and in 2023 a total of 99,289 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective security managers.

Top Degree Programs for Security Managers

What Skills Do Security Managers Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by security managers to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for security managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Security Managers
Based on 102,942 job postings

Based on 102,942 job postings related to security managers, facility management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 29% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, construction, hvac, plumbing and facility repair and maintenance were also highly sought.

As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for security managers, followed by operations, communication, leadership, customer service and planning.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about security managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for security managers.

What do security managers do?
How much do security managers make?

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The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.

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