Mostly Resilient
Last Update: 6/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Security Guards:
53.8%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
This result is backed by strong agreement across multiple data sources.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forSecurity Guards
$38,370 median salary•161,000 annual openings•SOC Code: 33-9032.00
Security Guards are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Security guard work is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the most important parts of the job, like de-escalating tense situations, comforting people, and making quick judgment calls, are things AI simply cannot do well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects basically flat employment through 2034, meaning AI is slowing job growth rather than eliminating positions outright.
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Security guard work is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the most important parts of the job, like de-escalating tense situations, comforting people, and making quick judgment calls, are things AI simply cannot do well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects basically flat employment through 2034, meaning AI is slowing job growth rather than eliminating positions outright.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Security Guards
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Security Guards jobs?
Right now, AI is mostly augmenting security guards rather than fully replacing them — but the technology is moving fast. At big firms like Allied Universal, AI is being added to video analytics to flag unwanted behaviors and even issue automated warnings [1] before a human guard steps in, and competitor GardaWorld is using AI-driven simulations to train its officers. AI-powered camera systems like ECAM's "Blackout" can spot threats faster than the human eye, which speeds up the reports and alarm-investigation tasks guards normally handle.
On the more dramatic end, data centers are deploying Boston Dynamics' Spot and Ghost Robotics' Vision 60 robot dogs to patrol perimeters [2], though Ghost Robotics' growth officer told Business Insider those bots "augment" rather than replace human guards. The Security Industry Association's 2026 Megatrends report explicitly names "Posthuman Automation of Security" [3] as a top trend, with leaders saying AI is being given more "authority of action" for repetitive monitoring and incident-reporting tasks.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Security Guards?
Adoption is happening, but unevenly. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics projects basically flat employment (0% change) for security guards from 2024 to 2034 [4], with 162,300 openings each year — meaning tech is curbing growth, not wiping out jobs. Cost is a big driver: a UC Berkeley Labor Center study released in April 2026 [5] found that California's 186,000 private guards earn a median of about $20/hour and nearly half are low-wage workers, so employers don't always have a strong financial reason to swap cheap labor for expensive robots.
On the other hand, high turnover, training gaps, and rising threats push companies toward AI tools that "quiet the noise" and reduce friction. Social and legal acceptance is the main brake — people still want a human in uniform to de-escalate conflicts, comfort visitors, and make judgment calls. The good news: skills like empathy, communication, and on-the-spot decision-making are exactly what AI struggles with, so guards who learn to work with AI cameras, drones, and robots will likely be more valuable, not less.
Sources
Will AI replace Security Guards?
No. We don't think AI will replace Security Guards, though we do expect the job to change.
We gave this career a 53.8% AI Resilience Score, which puts it in "Mostly Resilient" territory. That lines up with what we're seeing on the ground. AI is already handling a lot of the repetitive monitoring work: video analytics flag suspicious behavior, automated systems issue warnings, and robot dogs patrol perimeters at some data centers [2]. But these tools are being added alongside guards, not instead of them. The Security Industry Association calls this shift "Posthuman Automation of Security," with AI taking on more routine tasks while humans stay in the loop [3].
The reason guards aren't going away is partly economic and partly human. A UC Berkeley study found California's private guards earn around $20 per hour, making expensive robotics a hard sell for many employers [5]. More importantly, de-escalating conflicts, comforting people in distress, and making fast judgment calls in unpredictable situations are things AI genuinely struggles with. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roughly flat employment through 2034, with over 162,000 openings per year [4], which suggests technology is slowing growth rather than eliminating the field.
If you're considering this career, learning to work with AI tools will matter more than competing against them.
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Latest AI news for Security Guards
These articles highlight how AI is transforming the security field, offering both challenges and opportunities for aspiring security guards. For instance, the deployment of over 4,000 AI cameras at the India AI Impact Summit shows how technology can enhance monitoring capabilities, allowing guards to focus on more complex tasks. Additionally, the use of AI tools to monitor security personnel, as discussed in the Politics Home article, emphasizes the need for adaptability in this evolving landscape. Embracing AI resilience will be key for future security professionals to thrive in their careers.
Putting frontier AI to work to strengthen defenses
www.ibm.com • 5/20/2026
As AI accelerates cyberattacks, the biggest risk for enterprises is no longer whether vulnerabilities will be found, but how quickly...
India AI Summit: How smart sensors & thousands of officers formed massive security net
www.firstpost.com • 2/19/2026
A massive security operation has turned New Delhi into a high-tech fortress for the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
Over 4,000 AI cameras, 15K personnel deployed for India AI Impact Summit
www.rediff.com • 2/17/2026
Over 4000 AI-enabled cameras and 15000 security personnel are deployed for the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam,...
The House Article | Watching The Watchers: How AI Is Keeping An Eye On Security Guards
www.politicshome.com • 11/30/2025
Security guarding may seem safe from automation, yet Sophie Church finds employers are increasingly using surveillance tools to monitor...
From Guards to Guardians: Reimagining Security Work in the Age of AI and Robotics
www.asisonline.org • 8/7/2025
As artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and robotics reshape how security work gets done, they are also redefining what it...
More Career Info
Career: Security Guards
They keep places safe by watching over them, checking for any problems, and responding to emergencies or disturbances.
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$38,370
Jobs (2024)
1,262,100
Growth (2024-34)
+0.4%
Annual Openings
161,000
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, or machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering.
2
Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.
3
Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
4
Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
5
Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
6
Monitor and adjust controls that regulate building systems, such as air conditioning, furnace, or boiler.
7
Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
