Unarmed Security Guard Requirements For Washington

Security Guard & Officer Legal Requirements In Washington

Here on SecurityGuardTraining.io we want to provide you with all of the information you need to successfully become an Unarmed security guard in the state of Washington!

Interested in becoming an unarmed security guard in Washington? Well of course you are. Why else would you be reading this? In the event that you've clicked on the wrong thing and have no idea how you got here, we'll give you a second to get your bearings. 

Still here? Great. Let's talk. There's no better place to be an unarmed security guard than Washington state, and there's no better time than right this very minute. With huge growth in industry, education and tourism, Washington is booming across the board, and unarmed security guards are in constant demand. That means tremendous opportunities for motivated individuals such as yourself . 

Several major corporations have their headquarters in Washington, including Microsoft (the ones who make your computers), Starbucks (the ones who make your coffee), Nintendo America (the ones who make your video games) and Amazon.com (the ones who sell pretty much everything to pretty much everybody). These folks always have things that need to be guarded, and they pay handsomely to those who do it. Boeing was founded here too, and they employ more than 83,000 people in Washington alone. 

Besides major industries like these, you may find yourself working security at any of the countless malls, airports, government offices and private office buildings in cities like Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma. And then there are the colleges like Northwest University and University of Washington. Starting to get the picture? 

Tourism is big here too, especially in the summer, when thousands of people flock to visit the space needle, explore wine country or vacation along the coast. You'll likely have to deal with the public from time to time, so if you're a people person, that's a plus. 

The best part? Security guards in Washington earn more than their counterparts in most other states, with an average hourly wage of $15.14, well above the national average of $13.25 for security guards. Specifics are going to vary by employer of course, but some of the top paying companies for security guards are in the Tri-cities area, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

If weather is important to you – and it should be, since there's a good chance you'll be working outdoors – then you're in luck. The climate in Washington is pretty comfortable no matter what time of year it is, especially in Seattle and other western areas, where the Pacific keeps things nice and cool. Summers are usually in the 70s, and winters are in the 40s. Snow? Well, they get quite a bit up in the mountains, but if you're in one of the major cities you'll rarely see more than a dusting. There's a reason they call it the Evergreen State. Oh, but you should be ready for rain. There will be rain. 

It's not all rainbows and cotton candy of course, and you will have to jump through a couple of hoops to become an unarmed security guard in Washington. The biggest one is that you'll have to get a license from the Washington State Department of Licensing. You'll need to fill out a form, pay a fee and have a background check done. It's not too hard, but it's just one of those things you have to get out of the way. As an unarmed security guard, you won't need to get any kind of firearm license, so that's one less thing to worry about.

If you've never been a security guard, there's some testing and training you have to go through too. You'll learn things like how to respond in an emergency, how to ensure the safety of others and how to build relationships with law enforcement. It's pretty interesting stuff, actually. 

Once you're trained and licensed, you won't have to look hard to find work. Security guards are in high demand, and employment opportunities are expected to increase in the coming years. You never know. You may have the opportunity to prevent crimes, help people out, or even save a life. 

Minimum Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old
High school diploma, G.E.D or equivalent certificate

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