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In our day and age, when many people travel by plane, security guards are key in making them feel safe in airports.
As airport security technology is becoming increasingly more complex, like an airport security guard you have to be willing to keep up with the latest technological advancements and new methods designed to distinguish between innocent people and dangerous ones.
Knowing how to use the equipment is not the only job requirement, as a security guard you also need excellent people skills.
You also need to be a compassionate and tolerant person because your main task is to help people feel safe and you will work with people of all nations, ethnic backgrounds, and religious beliefs.
Article Table of Contents
Job Responsibilities
As an airport security guard, your main job responsibilities will be:
- making sure that people are feeling safe
- complete security checks in a professional manner
- operating x-ray equipment, search passengers, checking luggage
- interacting with people of different cultures
- identifying vehicles
There are also additional tasks that you may have to fulfill, such as:
- patrolling the airport premises
- signing visitors into and out of the building
- logging the traffic within the building and ensuring that certain parts of the airport are accessible only to authorized personnel
- recording suspicious activity
- searching baggage and guarding airport exits and entrances
- communicating with other security guards via walkie-talkies, mobile phones, or other communication devices
- writing reports for the police or other authorities
- creating and distributing building access cards
- managing the car park
Skills
To be able to perform all the above tasks airport security guards need some special skills, such as:
- good communication skills
- the ability to do their job while under pressure
- the ability to give and follow directions
- good observation skills
- being able to recall important information
- being good team workers
- customer service skills
- attention to details
- being physically fit
If you want to work at an airport you have to be prepared to:
- work during weekends and holidays
- you can’t have any tattoos on visible parts of the body, such as the neck and hands
- always arrive on time- punctuality is very important in this job
- the work will also involve evening or overnight shifts.
Where Can I Find Employment as an Airport Security Guard?
If you want to work as a security guard in an airport then you should be prepared to relocate or to travel each day to work because airports are located outside the city center.
Large cities usually have more than one airport so job openings may occur more often in a big city such as New York or Los Angeles.
Career Advancement Prospects
As an airport security guard, there are many positions you can advance into.
After earning a few years of experience, if you have good work results, you can be promoted to a supervisory position which comes with additional responsibilities but also a higher salary.
For this, you may need additional training but if you’re a good security officer, the airport may be willing to pay for your training.
Other positions that are usually better paid are security managers or positions at the immigration department.
Application Requirements
Although relevant work experience is not always required, it certainly helps.
Having a few years of experience in the military or as a police officer will look really good on your resume.
Before being hired you will also have to pass a background check to prove that you are an honest, polite, and trustworthy person.
A criminal background check is also required.
Salary Prospects
Your salary prospects as an airport security worker depend on your level of experience and role within the company.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage reported by transportation security screeners was $41,770 per year which means that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.
Salaries are also influenced by the state of employment and the employer.
The lowest 10 percent of all workers in this profession earned less than $34,640 while the top 10 percent made more than $50,240.
Conclusions
If you want a security job that will offer you the opportunity of working with people from different cultures, countries, and backgrounds, then an airport is a great place to find employment.
However, like any security job, this position requires a lot of responsibility and attention to detail but also communication skills and tolerance.