Skip to main content

Security Guard

Public Safety & Defence

Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Public Safety & Defence

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
  2. 2Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
  3. 3Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
  4. 4Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
  5. 5Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
  6. 6Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
  7. 7Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
  8. 8Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.
  9. 9Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.
  10. 10Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.
  11. 11Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.
  12. 12Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, or machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering.
  13. 13Escort or drive motor vehicle to transport individuals to specified locations or to provide personal protection.
  14. 14Monitor and adjust controls that regulate building systems, such as air conditioning, furnace, or boiler.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • CPO
  • CSO
  • Bouncer
  • Gateman
  • Watchman
  • Bodyguard
  • Patrolman
  • Bank Guard
  • Camp Guard
  • Doorshaker

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. Typical entry

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationHigh school diploma

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EconomicsDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Public Safety and Security95%
  • Customer and Personal Service91%
  • English Language86%

    English

  • Computers and Electronics82%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Administration and Management80%

    BusinessEconomics

  • Education and Training77%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsEvery day
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

17%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Firefighter (Bomba)

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

Related careers

If this interests you, these are worth a look too.

About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Security Guards

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org