Security jobs and the SIA licence explained

Security is a dependable sector with steady demand across shops, offices, building sites, events, pubs and clubs. The one thing that sets it apart from other entry-level work is that most roles legally require a licence from the Security Industry Authority, known as the SIA. Get that licence and you open the door to reliable work across the country. Here is how it works.

The main security roles

• Security officer or guard: protecting a site, patrolling, monitoring access and reporting incidents.
• Door supervisor: working the door at pubs, clubs and events, managing entry and keeping order.
• CCTV operator: monitoring camera systems in a control room. This needs its own public space surveillance licence.
• Retail security: preventing theft and dealing with incidents in shops.
• Close protection: personal security for individuals, a higher-paid specialism with its own licence.

The SIA licence

An SIA licence is a legal requirement for most frontline security work. To get one you need to:

• Complete the recognised training course for your role, for example the door supervisor or security guarding qualification, usually a few days of study and assessment.
• Pass a first aid element, which is part of the frontline training.
• Apply to the SIA, pass an identity and criminal record check, and pay the licence fee.

Budget for the training course plus the SIA licence fee, which is currently £190 and lasts three years. Some employers or agencies will help with the cost in return for you working for them, so it is worth asking before you pay out of pocket.

What security jobs pay

Pay starts around the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour from April 2026 and rises with experience, unsocial hours and specialism. Typical 2026 figures:

Nights, weekends and event work often pay more, and plenty of officers boost their income with overtime.

The types of site you might work

Security work varies a lot by setting, and it is worth knowing what suits you. Static guarding on a quiet business park or building site is steady and calm, mobile patrol involves driving between sites through the night, and retail security is busier and more people-facing. Door supervision at pubs and clubs is the most lively and occasionally confrontational, while event security covers concerts, football and festivals, often as flexible weekend work. Ask about the site and the shift before you accept, so the role matches the atmosphere you want.

How to get your first security job

Once you hold your SIA licence, getting work is straightforward. Register with security agencies and the larger security companies, which recruit continuously and can put you on shifts quickly. Retail parks, construction sites, offices, hospitals and events all need cover, so there is nearly always something going. Emphasise reliability, a calm head and good timekeeping, and be honest about the shifts you can do, including nights and weekends, since flexible officers are the easiest to place. Keep your licence in date, because letting it lapse stops you working the moment it expires.

Is it right for you?

Security suits calm, observant and reliable people who can stay level-headed when a situation gets tense. Much of the job is quiet vigilance rather than confrontation, but you do need the confidence to handle incidents and the patience for long, sometimes uneventful shifts. Once you hold an SIA licence you have a portable qualification that agencies value, work is steady all year round, and there is a clear path into supervisor, control room and management roles. For anyone wanting stable work with a recognised licence behind them, security is well worth considering.