What Does a Security Guard Do in NYC? Daily Duties Explained

Last Updated: October 15, 2025

Most people think security guards just stand around and watch things. Or they imagine the opposite extreme dramatic confrontations and heroic rescues like you see in movies.

The reality? It’s neither. And it’s both.

After fifteen years in the security industry, I’ve supervised thousands of shifts across every type of property in New York. The job is more complex than outsiders realize, and honestly, it’s more interesting than the guards themselves sometimes admit.

If you’re considering a security career, hiring security for your property, or just wondering what that person at your building’s desk actually does for eight hours, this breaks down the real day-to-day work.

Table of Contents

1. The Core Responsibilities
2. Legal Authority and Limitations in New York
3. Hour-by-Hour: What Each Shift Actually Looks Like
4. Access Control: More Than Just Checking IDs
5. Patrol Work and Why It Matters
6. Responding to Incidents and Emergencies
7. The Paperwork Nobody Talks About
8. How Duties Change by Industry
9. The Skills That Separate Good from Bad
10. What Guards Absolutely Don’t Do

The Core Responsibilities

Before getting into the weeds, here’s the basic framework of what security guards do:

Primary duties include:

• Controlling who enters and exits the property
• Conducting regular patrols to spot problems early
• Responding when something goes wrong
• Writing detailed reports about everything that happens
• Acting as first responders until police, fire, or EMS arrive
• Serving as the communication link between management and everyone else

The specifics change based on location a residential doorman handles different issues than a hospital security officer but those core functions apply everywhere.

One thing that surprises people: security work involves substantial customer service. You’re the first person visitors see, the one residents ask questions, the point of contact when something’s wrong. Being good at this job requires more than just staying alert.

Legal Authority and Limitations in New York

This matters because guards who don’t understand their legal boundaries create problems for everyone.

What New York Law Actually Says

Security guards in New York are private citizens employed to protect property. That’s it. According to New York State regulations, they have no special powers beyond what any citizen has.

Specifically, guards can:

• Observe and report suspicious activity to police
• Control access to private property they’re hired to protect
• Ask people to leave private property
• Make citizen’s arrests only for felonies they personally witness
• Use reasonable force to defend themselves or others
• Detain suspected shoplifters under New York’s merchant privilege law
• Call 911 and coordinate with emergency services

Guards cannot:

• Arrest someone for a misdemeanor they didn’t see happen
• Search people or vehicles without consent
• Use more force than the situation requires
• Carry firearms without completing the required 47-hour armed guard course
• Enter areas they’re not authorized to access
• Detain people indefinitely

The New York Penal Law covers what constitutes unlawful imprisonment something guards need to understand because improper detention creates serious liability.

NYC-Specific Requirements

New York State requires all security guards to:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Complete 8-hour pre-assignment training course approved by NYS
• Pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check
• Obtain a security guard license from the Division of Licensing Services
• Complete an additional 16 hours of on-the-job training within the first 90 days
• Renew license every two years

This is the bare minimum. Quality security companies like Asset Protection Group provide ongoing training far beyond these requirements.

Hour-by-Hour: What Each Shift Actually Looks Like

Security operates around the clock, and the work changes significantly depending on when you’re there.

Day Shift: 7 AM – 3 PM

Day shift handles the highest volume of people and activity.

7:00 – 7:30 AM: Shift Transition

You arrive, check in with the overnight officer, and read through their shift report. Did anything happen overnight? Are there ongoing issues you need to monitor? Any maintenance problems that need following up?

Then you do a quick walk-through of your assigned areas. You’re looking for anything obviously wrong broken glass, graffiti, doors that should be locked but aren’t, or anything the overnight officer might have missed.

7:30 – 9:30 AM: Morning Rush

This is when most people arrive. At a residential building, you’re helping residents heading to work, accepting package deliveries, and directing service providers. At an office building, you’re verifying employee badges and processing early visitors.

The front desk gets busy. You’re answering questions (“Where’s the mail room?”), providing directions, and staying aware of everyone coming through. Pattern recognition matters here you learn what normal looks like, which makes abnormal stand out.

9:30 – 11:00 AM: First Full Patrol

Once the morning rush dies down, you conduct a thorough patrol of the property. This isn’t a casual walk you’re systematically checking:

• Every entry and exit point
• Stairwells and elevators
• Parking areas
• Common spaces
• Mechanical rooms
• Any area where people aren’t supposed to be

You’re looking for security issues, safety hazards, maintenance problems, or anything unusual. Found a broken light in the stairwell? You document it and report it to management. See someone sleeping in a back hallway? You handle it according to property policy.

Most modern security operations use checkpoint systems QR codes, NFC tags, or GPS verification to prove patrols were completed. You scan each checkpoint as you pass it, creating a time-stamped record.

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Midday Operations

More visitor management, more packages, more questions. You coordinate lunch breaks with other security staff if there are multiple guards on duty. Lunch delivery drivers are constantly arriving. Amazon, UPS, FedEx busy buildings receive hundreds of packages daily.

Package management has become a huge part of residential security work. You verify the delivery person, accept the package, log it in the system, and often notify residents that their delivery arrived.

1:00 – 2:30 PM: Afternoon Patrol and Follow-ups

Another full patrol. You’re also following up on anything from earlier did maintenance fix that broken light? Did management respond to your report about the suspicious person in the parking garage?

If it’s a commercial building, you might be coordinating with vendors arriving for after-hours work, making sure they have proper authorization and know the rules.

2:30 – 3:00 PM: End of Shift Documentation

You write your Daily Activity Report summarizing everything that happened during your shift. This goes to management and gets filed. If anything significant occurred, you write a separate detailed incident report.

Then you brief the incoming shift. You hand off the radio, keys, and any other equipment. If there are ongoing situations they need to monitor, you explain those.

Evening Shift: 3 PM – 11 PM

Evening shift sees less traffic but different challenges.

3:00 – 5:00 PM: Afternoon Departure

People are leaving for the day. In office buildings, you’re monitoring the exit flow, making sure doors that should lock after hours do lock. In residential buildings, you’re dealing with after-school kid traffic, evening deliveries, and dinner rush for food delivery.

5:00 – 7:00 PM: After-Hours Access

People forget their keys. They left documents at the office. They need to pick something up. You’re verifying identities, checking authorization lists, and making judgment calls about whether someone claiming to work there actually does.

This is when social engineering attempts happen someone claiming to be an employee who “forgot their badge.” Good guards verify. Bad guards assume.

7:00 – 10:00 PM: Evening Patrols

Patrols become more important as fewer people are around. You’re paying extra attention to parking areas, looking for loitering, and making sure the property stays secure as activity drops off.

If you’re at a residential building, you’re dealing with noise complaints. Someone’s having a party. Someone else complains about noise. You investigate, mediate, and document everything.

10:00 – 11:00 PM: Lock-Up Procedures

For properties that close overnight, you’re securing the building. Checking that all authorized people have left. Locking doors. Setting alarms. Making sure the property is properly secured for the overnight officer.

Overnight Shift: 11 PM – 7 AM

Overnight is unique because you’re often the only person in the building.

11:00 PM – 12:00 AM: Night Shift Orientation

a- You get briefed by evening shift.
b- You verify the building is properly secured.
c- You test all your equipment radio, flashlight, panic button if you have one.
d- You do a full walk-through to confirm everything is as it should be.

12:00 AM – 6:00 AM: Hourly Patrols

You conduct patrols every hour throughout the night. The frequency depends on the property and the contract, but you’re constantly moving. You vary your route and timing to stay unpredictable.

Between patrols, you’re monitoring cameras, watching for alarms, and staying alert. Yes, staying awake is part of the challenge. Guards who fall asleep on overnight shifts get fired immediately it’s a safety issue and a liability issue.

When something goes wrong at 3 AM, you’re the response. Alarm goes off? You investigate. Medical emergency? You’re the first responder until EMS arrives. Suspicious person on property? You handle it.

6:00 – 7:00 AM: Morning Preparation

a- You unlock appropriate doors for early arrivals.
b- You complete your shift report.
c- You prepare to brief the day shift officer.

If your patrol found maintenance issues overnight a pipe leak, a light out, a door not closing properly you document it and pass it along to management.

Access Control: More Than Just Checking IDs

Access control takes up significant time, especially at residential and commercial properties.

What This Actually Involves

In Residential Buildings:

You’re managing multiple access systems. The front door. The package room. The parking garage. The gym and amenities. Each has different rules about who can access what and when.

A typical interaction:

• Resident comes home, you greet them by name if you know them
• Visitor arrives, you verify who they’re visiting
• You call up to the apartment to confirm the visit is expected
• You log the visitor’s name and arrival time
• You issue a temporary visitor pass
• When they leave, you log their departure time

Food delivery creates constant interruptions. DoorDash. Uber Eats. Grubhub. The driver arrives, you verify the order, you call up or text the resident, you coordinate the handoff. Multiply this by 50-100 times per evening shift.

Then there are the packages. Package theft is a growing problem in urban areas. Building security guards are the front line defense against this.

a- You verify delivery drivers.
b- You accept packages.
c- You organize the package room (which becomes chaos without constant management).
d- You notify residents.
e- You deal with disputes about missing packages.

In Commercial Buildings:

You’re running a visitor management system. Someone arrives for a meeting:

• You ask who they’re visiting
• You verify the appointment in your system or by calling up
• You check their ID and potentially take a photo
• You print a visitor badge
• You may need to escort them to their destination
• When they leave, you collect their badge and log them out

For after-hours access, you’re checking employee IDs against authorization lists. Someone wants to work late? They need to be on the approved list. Someone forgot their badge? You verify their identity another way or they don’t get in.

Contractors need special attention. Construction crew arriving at 6 AM? You verify they’re scheduled, check their IDs against the approved list, ensure they sign in, and make sure they know where they can and cannot go.

In Retail Settings:

You’re monitoring for known shoplifters or people who’ve been banned from the property. Many retailers maintain photo databases of individuals who are trespassed.

You control access to employee areas. Only staff goes behind the counter or into the stockroom. Sounds simple, but people try to wander back there constantly.

During busy periods, you might manage crowd flow. Too many people in the store? You control entry. Line for a product release? You organize it.

The Judgment Calls

Access control requires constant judgment calls:

A delivery driver says they have a package but the resident isn’t home. Do you accept it? Someone claims to live in the building but doesn’t have their key or ID. Do you let them in? A vendor says they’re scheduled for work but they’re not on your list. Do you allow access?

Good security guards verify everything. They don’t make assumptions. They follow protocols even when people get annoyed about it.

Our Manhattan security teams handle some of the highest-traffic corporate lobbies in the city. The volume of people is intense, but the protocols stay consistent.

Patrol Work and Why It Matters

Patrols aren’t just walking around aimlessly. There’s purpose to every route.

What You’re Actually Checking

Interior Checks:

• Entry doors: Locked/unlocked per schedule, functioning properly
• Emergency exits: Unobstructed, alarms operational
• Stairwells: Empty of unauthorized persons, well-lit, no safety hazards
• Elevators: Functioning properly, no one stuck inside
• Restrooms: Check for issues without violating privacy
• Common areas: No abandoned items, no damage, proper conditions
• Mechanical rooms: No leaks, no unusual sounds or smells, access secured
• Parking garage: No unauthorized vehicles, no suspicious activity, adequate lighting

Exterior Checks:

• Perimeter: Fencing intact, gates secured, no signs of tampering
• Parking lots: All vehicles authorized, no suspicious activity, lighting functional
• Loading docks: Secured when not in use, no unauthorized access
• Grounds: No obvious hazards, no evidence of vandalism
• Building exterior: No broken windows, no graffiti, no attempted break-ins

How Professional Guards Document Patrols

Modern security uses technology to verify patrols happened. Guard tour systems provide proof:

Physical checkpoint systems require the guard to use a wand to scan checkpoints throughout the property. The data downloads to show exactly when each checkpoint was scanned.

GPS-based mobile systems track the guard’s location in real-time. Property managers can see that patrols are happening on schedule.

QR code scanning using smartphones provides time-stamped proof of each checkpoint.

We use GPS-verified digital reporting for our mobile patrol services. Clients can access reports showing exactly when their property was checked and what was found.

Why Patrols Matter

Patrols serve multiple purposes:

Deterrence: Visible security presence discourages criminal activity. Someone casing a building for break-in opportunities will move on if they see regular patrols.

Early detection: Finding problems early prevents bigger issues. A small water leak found during a patrol prevents major flooding. A door left propped open gets secured before someone exploits it.

Accountability: Documented patrols prove security is doing their job. If something happens and the question arises “was security patrolling?” the records provide the answer.

Peace of mind: Residents and tenants feel more secure knowing someone is actively monitoring the property.

Responding to Incidents and Emergencies

When things go wrong, security guards are typically first on scene. How they respond matters significantly.

Medical Emergencies

Based on our incident data, medical emergencies are the most common serious incidents security officers face.

a- Someone collapses in the lobby.
b- Someone has a seizure.
c- Someone having chest pain.
d- Someone cut themselves badly.

Standard response protocol:

1. Assess the scene for safety
2. Call 911 immediately for serious medical issues
3. Begin first aid if trained and it’s safe to do so
4. Clear the area of onlookers
5. Assign someone to meet emergency responders at the entrance
6. Gather information (patient name, what happened, medical history if known)
7. Document everything once the situation is stable

All our security officers are certified in CPR and basic first aid. When someone stops breathing, the seconds before professional help arrives matter.

Fire Alarms and Evacuations

Fire alarms go off constantly in NYC buildings. Most are false alarms burnt food, construction dust, system malfunctions. But you never assume it’s false until you verify it.

Response procedure:

1. Note the alarm location from the panel
2. Investigate the area immediately
3. If there’s actual fire or smoke, evacuate and call 911
4. If it’s a false alarm, silence the alarm and reset the system
5. Document the cause
6. Coordinate with FDNY if they respond

For buildings requiring fire safety directors, those specially trained individuals coordinate evacuation procedures. Security guards support this process by directing people to exits, ensuring stairwells are clear, and accounting for building occupants.

Confrontations and Disturbances

Arguments. Domestic disputes. Intoxicated individuals. Mental health crises. Security guards deal with human conflict regularly.

The proper response usually isn’t force it’s de-escalation:

De-escalation techniques:

• Maintain safe distance (don’t get within grabbing range)
• Speak calmly and clearly
• Avoid aggressive body language
• Don’t argue or get defensive
• Give people space and time to calm down
• Offer solutions or options when possible
• Call for police backup when the situation warrants

Bad security guards try to be tough guys. Good security guards prioritize safety theirs, the involved parties’, and bystanders’ and let trained law enforcement handle criminal matters.

I’ve seen security officers successfully talk down aggressive individuals dozens of times. I’ve also seen guards escalate situations by being confrontational. The difference is training and temperament.

Suspicious Activity and Security Threats

Guards are trained to recognize suspicious behavior:

• Unknown persons in restricted areas
• People photographing security infrastructure
• Vehicles circling properties repeatedly
• Unusual interest in security procedures
• Abandoned items or packages
• Attempts to test or defeat security measures

When something seems wrong, professional guards observe and report. They note specific, factual details: what the person looked like, what they were doing, what they said, what vehicle they left in. Vague reports like “someone suspicious was around” don’t help anyone.

Property Damage and Vandalism

Graffiti appears overnight. A window gets broken. Equipment gets damaged.

Standard protocol:

1. Secure the scene and prevent further damage
2. Document everything with photos if possible
3. Notify property management immediately
4. Call police if the damage constitutes a crime worth reporting
5. Preserve any evidence
6. File detailed incident report
7. Follow up to ensure repairs happen

The Paperwork Nobody Talks About

Security work involves substantial writing. If it’s not documented, legally it didn’t happen.

Daily Activity Reports

Every shift produces a Daily Activity Report (DAR). This summarizes:

• Shift start and end times
• All patrols completed
• Visitors processed
• Incidents (even minor ones)
• Observations worth noting
• Equipment or maintenance issues identified
• Weather conditions if relevant

A typical DAR might read:

“Started shift 0700 hours. Received briefing from overnight officer Smith. No incidents overnight. Conducted patrols at 0730, 0930, 1130, 1330, and 1530 hours. All areas secure. Processed 47 visitors. Accepted 23 package deliveries. Reported broken light in north stairwell to management at 1045 hours. Shift ended 1500 hours without incident.”

Incident Reports

Anything unusual gets a separate detailed incident report:

Required information:

• Date and exact time
• Location (be specific “3rd floor east stairwell” not “stairwell”)
• What happened (facts only, no opinions)
• Who was involved (names, descriptions, contact information)
• What actions were taken
• Who was notified
• Follow-up required

Example of good vs. bad reporting:

❌ BAD: “Some guy was acting weird in the lobby. I told him to leave.”

✅ GOOD: “At 1430 hours, observed white male, approximately 30 years old, 5’10”, wearing blue jacket, pacing in front lobby and approaching multiple residents. When approached, subject was speaking incoherently. Asked subject to leave property. Subject complied without incident and exited through front door heading north on Broadway. No police intervention required.”

The difference? The second report contains specific, factual details that would hold up if questioned later.

Visitor and Access Logs

Every person who enters gets logged:

• Name
• Company/reason for visit
• Who they’re visiting
• Time in
• Time out
• ID verification
• Badge number assigned

This creates an audit trail. If property goes missing, if something gets damaged, if an incident occurs the logs show who was present.

Why Documentation Matters

Good reports protect everyone:

They protect the property owner from liability. If someone claims they were injured and no one helped, the documentation proves what actually happened.

They protect the security company from false claims. Someone says a guard was sleeping on duty? The documented hourly patrols prove otherwise.

They protect the individual officer. Someone claims the guard used excessive force? The report shows exactly what actions were taken and why.

Legal cases frequently turn on what was documented. I’ve watched lawsuits where the quality of security reports determined the outcome.

How Duties Change by Industry

Security work varies enormously by context. A residential doorman has completely different concerns than hospital security.

Residential Building Security

Primary focus:

• Resident and guest services
• Package management
• Access control
• Maintaining building atmosphere
• Noise and parking enforcement

Special considerations: You know residents by name. You greet them daily. You’re part of the community. Customer service skills matter as much as security skills.

You also handle complaints noise, parking disputes, neighbor conflicts. You’re often the first person residents approach with problems, whether those problems are security-related or not.

Commercial Office Security

Primary focus:

• Employee and visitor verification
• Protecting company assets and proprietary information
• After-hours access control
• Emergency response coordination

Special considerations: You’re representing the company to every visitor. Professional appearance and demeanor matter. You need to balance friendliness with security protocols being welcoming without compromising access control.

Many corporate environments use sophisticated technology biometric scanners, integrated visitor management systems, surveillance monitoring. You need to be comfortable with technology.

Retail Security

Primary focus:

• Loss prevention and shoplifting deterrence
• Customer safety
• Emergency response
• Crowd management

Special considerations: You need to recognize shoplifting tactics without profiling. You need to be visible enough to deter theft but not so aggressive that you make legitimate customers uncomfortable.

Retail security requires understanding relevant laws about detaining suspected shoplifters. Get it wrong and you create liability. Get it right and you save the business significant losses.

Our Brooklyn security services cover substantial retail environments where loss prevention is a primary concern.

Healthcare Security

Primary focus:

• Patient and visitor safety
• Violent patient/visitor management
• Infant abduction prevention
• Pharmacy and controlled substance security
• Emergency department support

Special considerations: Healthcare security deals with people in crisis medical, mental health, and emotional.

a- You encounter violence more frequently than in other settings.
b- You need specialized training in crisis intervention and working with individuals experiencing mental health episodes.
c- You also deal with strict regulations around patient privacy (HIPAA) and need to understand when and how to intervene in patient care situations.

Construction Site Security

Primary focus:

• Preventing theft of materials and equipment
• Trespasser removal
• After-hours property monitoring
• Safety hazard identification

Special considerations: Construction sites are inherently hazardous. You need to understand basic construction safety to work safely on site. You’re often completely alone on site overnight, responsible for large areas with multiple access points.

Tool and material theft is constant at construction sites. Professional thieves target these locations because equipment is valuable and relatively easy to steal.

Event Security

Primary focus:

• Crowd control and management
• Credential verification
• Emergency evacuation procedures
• VIP protection
• Coordination with venue staff and local police

Special considerations: Events are temporary and fast-paced. Every event is different. You need to adapt quickly. You might be working a corporate gala one night and a concert the next night completely different skill sets.

Crowd management is specialized work. Understanding crowd psychology, knowing when a crowd is becoming dangerous, maintaining control without force these are skills that come with training and experience.

We provide specialized event security throughout NYC, and the officers who excel at this work are different from those who prefer static building security.

The Skills That Separate Good from Bad

The state requires an 8-hour course. That gets you licensed. It doesn’t make you good at the job.

Essential Skills

Situational Awareness

This is the most important skill and the hardest to teach. You need to notice things that don’t fit. Not everything you’d go crazy but the things that matter.

You learn what normal looks like at your specific property. Then abnormal stands out. That person isn’t dressed like the usual delivery drivers. That car has been circling the parking lot for twenty minutes. That visitor got nervous when you asked for ID.

Pattern recognition. Observation. Attention to detail without paranoia.

De-escalation and Communication

Most security situations resolve through conversation, not force. Someone’s angry? You need to calm them down. Someone’s confused? You need to explain things clearly. Two people are arguing? You need to mediate without taking sides.

This requires:

• Emotional intelligence
• Active listening
• Calm demeanor under pressure
• Clear communication
• Cultural awareness
• Patience

The guards who think security is about being intimidating are usually terrible at the job. The guards who can defuse tense situations through professional communication are invaluable.

Customer Service

In most settings, security guards interact constantly with residents, employees, visitors, or customers. Being helpful and professional matters.

Someone’s lost and needs directions? Help them. Someone has questions about building amenities? Answer professionally. Someone’s having a bad day and is short with you? Don’t take it personally.

The best security guards make people feel both safe and welcome. That’s harder than it sounds.

Physical Fitness and Stamina

You’re on your feet most of your shift. You might be walking several miles per day doing patrols. If an emergency happens, you need to respond quickly.

You don’t need to be a bodybuilder. You need endurance, reasonable fitness, and the ability to stay alert through long shifts.

Technology Competence

Modern security involves:

• Surveillance camera systems (understanding how to operate them, review footage, download video)
• Access control systems (adding and removing users, troubleshooting access issues)
• Radio communication (proper radio procedure, clear communication)
• Incident reporting software (many companies use apps for digital reporting)
• Basic computer skills

You don’t need to be a tech expert, but you need to be comfortable with technology and able to learn new systems.

Decision-Making Under Pressure

When an alarm goes off at 2 AM, someone needs to make fast decisions. Is this a real emergency or a false alarm? Should you investigate alone or call for backup? Should you call 911 immediately or assess the situation first?

Good judgment comes from training, experience, and temperament. Some people stay calm under pressure. Others panic. Security work requires the former.

Integrity and Reliability

a- You have keys.
b- You have access codes.
c- You know security procedures.
d- You see when people are home and when they’re away.
e- You’re trusted with valuable information and property.

If you can’t be trusted, you can’t do this job. Period.

What Guards Absolutely Don’t Do

Common misconceptions about security work:

Security guards are not police officers.

a- They don’t have arrest powers beyond citizen’s arrest.
b- They can’t investigate crimes.
c- They can’t pull people over.
d- They observe and report, then call police for criminal matters.

Security guards are not maintenance workers. They report maintenance issues but they don’t fix them. A guard might note that a light is out, but calling an electrician isn’t their job.

Security guards are not personal assistants. Yes, they help people. No, they’re not there to run errands, hold packages indefinitely, or handle personal requests unrelated to security.

Security guards shouldn’t:

• Sleep on duty (immediate termination at any professional company)
• Leave their post without relief
• Use excessive force
• Make arrests beyond their authority
• Share confidential information
• Falsify reports or logs
• Engage in racial or other profiling
• Create confrontations unnecessarily

Professional security officers understand the boundaries of their role and operate within them. Guards who exceed their authority create legal liability for themselves and their employer.

The Reality of Security Work

After explaining all this, here’s what you should understand:

Security work combines vigilance, customer service, problem-solving, and documentation. It’s more complex than outsiders realize. It requires genuine skill and judgment.

The job oscillates between monotony and intensity. You might go weeks without serious incidents, then handle three emergencies in one shift.

Good security guards prevent problems through presence and observation.

a- They respond effectively when incidents occur.
b- They document everything thoroughly.
c- They balance being friendly with maintaining authority.

Bad security guards are reactive instead of proactive.

a- They see the job as “watching TV and getting paid.”
b- They don’t take training seriously.
c- They cut corners on patrols and documentation.

Whether you’re hiring security for your Queens property, considering entering the field, or just curious about the profession security work matters more than people generally think.

When professional officers do their job well, properties are safer, people feel more secure, and problems get identified before they become crises.

That’s what security guards do in New York City.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do you need to be a security guard in NYC?

You must be 18 years old, complete the NYS-required 8-hour pre-assignment training course, pass a criminal background check, and obtain a security guard license from the NYS Department of State. The license costs $36 and is valid for two years. Additional training requirements apply for armed positions.

How much do security guards earn in New York?

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, security guards in the New York metropolitan area earn a median hourly wage of approximately $18-$24. Entry-level positions typically start around $16-18 per hour, while experienced guards earn $25-40+ per hour depending on specialization. Armed guards, overnight shifts, and specialized roles command premium rates.

Can security guards carry guns in New York?

Only if they complete the 47-hour NYS Armed Security Guard training program, pass firearms qualification tests, undergo additional background checks, and maintain annual recertification. Most security positions in NYC are unarmed. Armed security is typically reserved for high-risk environments like banks, jewelry stores, or executive protection.

What’s the difference between a security guard and a police officer?

Police officers are sworn law enforcement with arrest powers, legal authority to investigate crimes, and enhanced legal protections. Security guards are private citizens employed to protect specific property. They have no special legal authority beyond what any citizen has. For criminal matters beyond their authority, security guards call police.

Do security guards need to be physically strong?

Physical strength is less important than stamina and general fitness. The job requires standing and walking for 8-12 hour shifts. You need to stay alert throughout. While some situations might require physical intervention, good judgment and de-escalation skills prevent most physical confrontations. Many effective security officers aren’t particularly large or muscular.

Can security guards search people or their belongings?

Not without consent. Security guards have no legal authority to conduct searches. In employment contexts, employers may have policies requiring searches of bags as a condition of employment, but that’s different from guards having search authority. Attempting to search someone without consent or legal authority creates serious liability.

Considering security work? Asset Protection Group employs professional security officers throughout New York City. We provide comprehensive training, competitive wages, and advancement opportunities. Contact us to learn about current openings.

Need professional security services? We provide:

• Security officers
• Mobile patrols
• Armed security

Serving all NYC boroughs:

• Manhattan
• Brooklyn
• Queens
• Bronx
• Long Island

External References:

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Security Guards
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Employment Statistics
3. American Red Cross – CPR Training

About the Author: This article was written by Asset Protection Group’s operations team, based on fifteen years of experience providing security services throughout New York City. Our team includes former law enforcement officers, military veterans, and NYS-licensed security professionals.