Electronic Security Sector Added Jobs and Higher Wages
The electronic security industry has outpaced private-sector growth in both hiring and real wage gains since 2001.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Employment
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Do you expect specialized industry wages to continue growing faster than the broader private sector?
A new report from the Electronic Security Association shows the security services industry grew to 141,000 workers by 2025. This expansion highlights a sector that has significantly outperformed the broader U.S. private economy in both employment and pay growth.
Why it matters
The industry's consistent growth provides insight into a specialized labor market that has proven resilient over the last quarter-century. For workers and job seekers, this data underscores how security services have offered wages and expansion rates that exceed typical private-sector averages.
Electronic security wages reached an annualized $93,000, while employment grew at a compound annual rate of 2% since 2001. This compares to overall private-sector employment growth of just 0.86% annually during the same period.
The players
Electronic Security Association
A trade organization that supports security professionals and provides industry-specific research and economic intelligence.
Beacon Economics
An economic forecasting firm that partnered with the industry to analyze employment and wage trends.
The details
The industry successfully added between 3,000 and 5,000 jobs annually through 2022, fueled by steady demand for professional security services. This expansion reflects a long-term labor trend where the sector grew from 86,000 positions in 2001 to 141,000 by 2025. By partnering with Beacon Economics, the Electronic Security Association mapped these gains against wider economic markers to identify the sector's outperformance.
Timeline
2001: The industry began the period with approximately 86,000 workers.
2001-2025: This 25-year window served as the primary period for employment and wage growth analysis.
2022: Annual growth of 3,000 to 5,000 jobs continued through this year.
2025: Industry employment reached approximately 141,000 workers.
September 26, 2026: The inaugural Industry Performance Index report was published.
Money Landscape
The security industry's performance tracks against historical growth cycles within the broader U.S. labor market. It marks a departure from standard private-sector trends by maintaining higher compound annual real wage growth over the last quarter-century.
The sector's wage trajectory suggests that specialized security roles may offer competitive compensation packages compared to the broader private-sector average. Households considering a career shift should consult with a career counselor or financial professional to assess how industry-specific pay growth aligns with their long-term budget needs.
The takeaway
The electronic security industry has historically outpaced the private sector in both job creation and real wage gains. Workers can track these ongoing economic benchmarks by reviewing the annual performance indicators provided by industry associations.
Further reading
For more data on labor market shifts, see our Employment section.
More information
You can access the complete data findings by visiting the Industry Performance Index report download.
Live Poll
Do you expect specialized industry wages to continue growing faster than the broader private sector?
