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AI Job Risk

Occupation baseline · Research consensus

Will AI replace Security Guards?

Lower risk

Baseline AI displacement risk for Security Guards, aggregated from 7 research sources.

What this score means

Security Guards leans toward the safer end for Public Sector / Government. Parts of the role touch tasks AI is getting good at, but the core still depends on hands on work or judgment that resists automation. At 27 out of 100 it scores 4 points above the Public Sector / Government average of 23. Across the 7 sources behind this baseline, individual estimates run from 14 to 46, so the score is a weighted consensus rather than any single figure.

The number is a consensus estimate for the typical version of the role, built from published academic and industry research scored occupation by occupation. It is not a prediction about any individual. How scoring works

What this job actually involves

Exposure follows the work itself rather than the job title, so it is worth seeing what the role is made of. These are the tasks O*NET records for Security Guards, most central first, showing 12 of 14.

  • 01Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
  • 02Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
  • 03Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
  • 04Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
  • 05Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
  • 06Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
  • 07Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
  • 08Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.
  • 09Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.
  • 10Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.
  • 11Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.
  • 12Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, or machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering.

Task statements from O*NET by the National Center for O*NET Development, used under CC BY 4.0. The tasks are descriptive; the exposure score above is ours.

The research behind this score

This baseline aggregates 7 research sources that scored Security Guards for AI and automation exposure. More recent, higher confidence studies carry more weight in the final number.

Common questions

How likely is AI to replace Security Guards?
Published research puts Security Guards at 27 out of 100 for AI displacement risk, in the lower risk band. The number is a weighted consensus of 7 research sources and describes the typical version of the role, not any individual.
Do researchers agree on the risk for Security Guards?
Only partly. Individual estimates for Security Guards run from 14 to 46 out of 100 across the 7 sources behind this score, so the single number smooths over real disagreement. More recent and higher confidence studies carry more weight in it.
Which public sector / government roles face similar AI exposure?
The closest published public sector / government roles to Security Guards by score are Parking Enforcement Workers (27/100), Transportation Security Screeners (28/100), and School Bus Monitors (26/100). Each has its own page with the research behind its number.

Also covers

Alarm Investigator · Armed Guard · Armed Security Guard · Armed Security Officer · Armored Car Driver · Armored Car Guard · Bag Checker · Baggage Inspector and related titles

Estimated displacement window

The dated estimate for this role is included in the full personalised report.

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Informational guidance based on published research, not professional career or financial advice. Scores update as new research is ingested.