Salary guide
Ex-Police Security Salaries in the UK
Reviewed July 2026
Security is the widest police exit route and the widest pay range. The trap is entering at the licensed-guarding floor when operational police experience typically prices at supervisor level and above — employers in this sector explicitly rate warrant-card years.
Ranges below are editorial estimates from advertised UK salaries. London and critical-infrastructure sites pay at the top of each band.
What the roles pay
| Role | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Security officer (SIA) | £24,000–£29,000 | The floor — most ex-police enter above it |
| Security supervisor / team leader | £28,000–£34,000 | |
| Site / security manager | £38,000–£52,000 | Typical entry for ex-sergeants |
| Regional / operations security manager | £50,000–£65,000 | |
| Security consultant | £45,000–£70,000 | Day rates £350–£600 self-employed |
| Head of security / director | £65,000–£100,000+ | Corporate, CNI and finance sectors |
Advertised UK ranges, editorial estimates reviewed July 2026. Salaries on live adverts always take precedence over these estimates.
What moves the number
- Entering at the right rung: police service usually justifies supervisor/duty-manager entry, not officer-level.
- Security clearance (SC/CTC/DV, or recent NPPV) — cleared roles commonly pay 10–20% over equivalent uncleared posts.
- Sector: corporate/financial and data-centre security out-pays retail and events at every grade.
- London weighting adds roughly 10–20% across the board.
- Chartered status (CSyP) and Security Institute membership matter at manager level and above.
Coming from policing
Response, firearms, custody and supervisory backgrounds all convert here — see the skills guides linked below for the CV translation. Command experience (sergeant and above) frequently jumps straight to security manager; CTSA experience prices as consultancy.