Share and intensity of work current AI systems can materially affect.
SOC 33-9032
Security Guards AI displacement risk
AI cameras and remote monitoring change what guards watch, shifting routine observation to software. Physical response, de-escalation, emergency first aid, and on-site judgment keep human presence necessary at most posts.
Likely potential for exposed tasks to move to software after workflow integration.
Remote monitoring reduces headcount per site but does not remove the need for responders. Guards who gain technology, emergency, and supervisory skills move into better-paid positions.
Distribution
Where Security Guards sits across 620 tracked roles
Displacement pressure 42 — higher than 70% of the 620 occupations tracked on displacement.ai.
Score version
This page uses Seed model v0.4 (seed-v0.4-2026-05), last reviewed 2026-08-08. Directional occupation-level planning model using hand-reviewed public research, task exposure estimates, wage context, and transition-pathway assumptions.
14 O*NET task statements matched to SOC 33-9032. The displayed task profile combines these official task statements with the current public score model.
Median wage context: $38,020 (May 2025, US national). The latest BLS row matched SOC 33-9032.
Scores are planning signals, not forecasts. Local hiring demand, employer-specific workflows, licensing, and credentials must be validated before making career decisions.
2030 economic stress test
How Anthropic's scenarios classify Security Guards
SOC 33-9032 places this role in the paper's all-other occupation group. These group-level outcomes do not change the 42/100 role score and are not an occupation forecast.
+1.1% group wage
Employment rises and unemployment falls for the all-other group, but the paper does not publish a separate group rate.
Economy-wide: +1.6% GDP and 3.9% unemployment.
+5.9% group wage
Employment rises and unemployment falls for the all-other group, but the paper does not publish a separate group rate.
Economy-wide: +8.3% GDP and 4.6% unemployment.
+33.6% group wage
Employment rises and unemployment falls for the all-other group, but the paper does not publish a separate group rate.
Economy-wide: +32.4% GDP and 11.9% unemployment.
Compare the assumptions and limitations across all three scenarios. Source: The Anthropic Institute Working Paper No. 2026-02.
Official task evidence
O*NET task matches for Security Guards
The current evidence import matched 14 task statements from Task Statements 31.0 (August 2026). These rows are used as a grounding layer for judging which parts of the occupation are repeatable, language-heavy, analytical, social, physical, or compliance-sensitive.
Dataset31.0 (August 2026)
Matched tasks14
SOC33-9032
- Core task / ID 20894
Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
- Core task / ID 2131
Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
- Core task / ID 20895
Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
- Core task / ID 2132
Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
- Core task / ID 2136
Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
- Core task / ID 2133
Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
Source: O*NET Resource Center, Task Statements. Raw import target: data/raw/onet/task-statements-31-0.txt.
Task profile
Where AI changes the work
Patrol premises and check access points
Exposure 30, automation 18%, augmentation 26%.
O*NET evidence: Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and e... (ID 2131)
Monitor entrances and authorize access
Exposure 52, automation 36%, augmentation 32%.
O*NET evidence: Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons ... (ID 2133)
Respond to alarms and disturbances
Exposure 24, automation 8%, augmentation 34%.
O*NET evidence: Answer alarms and investigate disturbances. (ID 2132)
Write incident and activity reports
Exposure 60, automation 34%, augmentation 52%.
TaskExposureAutomationAugmentation
Patrol premises and check access points3018%26%
Monitor entrances and authorize access5236%32%
Respond to alarms and disturbances248%34%
Write incident and activity reports6034%52%
Transition pathways
Adjacent moves that preserve existing skills
role redesign
ModerateSecurity Shift Supervisor
Training horizon: 1-3 months. Skill overlap 78. Wage preservation signal 122.
- Own post schedules
- Review incident reports
- Train new guards
adjacent role
ModerateSecurity Systems Technician
Training horizon: 6-12 months. Skill overlap 56. Wage preservation signal 142.
- Learn camera and alarm systems
- Practice installation basics
- Study low-voltage wiring
Comparison guides
Compare the next move before you commit
1-3 months
Security Guards to Security Shift Supervisor
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Security Guards into Security Shift Supervisor.
6-12 months
Security Guards to Security Systems Technician
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Security Guards into Security Systems Technician.
What the AI risk score means for Security Guards
The displacement pressure score for Security Guards is 42. That score blends task exposure, automation pressure, augmentation potential, wage vulnerability, transition feasibility, and source confidence. It is designed to help workers and workforce teams decide where to act first, not to claim a specific date when a job will disappear.
For this role, the clearest risk pattern is visible at the task level. Monitor entrances and authorize access carries 36% automation pressure, while Write incident and activity reports carries 52% augmentation potential. That means the best response is usually a targeted redesign of work: move away from repeatable production tasks and toward judgment, exception handling, coordination, stakeholder context, and accountable use of AI tools.
Labor-market context and wage risk
Median wage: $38,020 (May 2025, US national). Employment context: Large protective role with surveillance technology overlay. Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Wage vulnerability is 66, while transition feasibility is 62. A high wage-vulnerability score means workers should pay close attention to salary preservation before making a move. A high transition-feasibility score means there are adjacent paths that can reuse existing skills without requiring a complete career reset.
- Moderate displacement pressure
- Monitoring automation reduces posts
- Physical response stays human
Upskilling priorities
Skills that make this role more resilient
The safest upskilling plan starts with skills already close to the work. For Security Guards, the strongest near-term skill priorities are listed below. These are useful whether the goal is to stay in the role, move to a redesigned version of the role, or transition into an adjacent occupation.
De-escalation
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Emergency response
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Surveillance systems
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Incident documentation
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
90-day transition plan
The most practical next step is not to wait for a layoff or a full role redesign. Use the next 90 days to create evidence that you can operate in a safer, more AI-augmented version of the work.
- In the first 30 days, document the repetitive tasks in your current work and identify where AI can reduce drafting, lookup, classification, or reporting time.
- By 60 days, complete one small project connected to Security Shift Supervisor, such as own post schedules.
- By 90 days, compare internal openings and external postings for Security Shift Supervisor or Security Systems Technician and update your resume around measurable workflow outcomes.
FAQ
Questions about AI and Security Guards
Will AI replace Security Guards?
AI cameras and remote monitoring change what guards watch, shifting routine observation to software. Physical response, de-escalation, emergency first aid, and on-site judgment keep human presence necessary at most posts. The better planning signal is not full replacement, but which tasks become automated, which tasks become AI-assisted, and which responsibilities still need human judgment.
Which parts of Security Guards work are most exposed to AI?
Monitor entrances and authorize access and Write incident and activity reports show the strongest automation pressure in this model. Write incident and activity reports and Respond to alarms and disturbances are better treated as AI-augmented work.
What should Security Guards learn next?
Start with De-escalation, Emergency response, Surveillance systems. The most practical adjacent paths in this model are Security Shift Supervisor and Security Systems Technician.
How should this score be used?
Use it as a planning signal, not a prediction. Confirm local hiring demand, wages, licensing, credentials, and employer adoption before making a career move.
Sources
Evidence trail
International Labour Organization / 20 May 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational ExposureOECD / 11 July 2023OECD Employment Outlook 2023: Artificial Intelligence and the Labour MarketO*NET Resource Center / Database 31.0 (August 2026)Occupation, Task, Skill, and Work-Activity DataUS Bureau of Labor Statistics / May 2025 estimates (released 15 May 2026)Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics