Guardian Research Desk
Current, source-linked figures for journalists, property teams, researchers, and organizations evaluating private-security needs in Texas.
Last updated October 8, 2026. Figures retain the reporting period stated by each source.
What this page covers
Private security spans more than guard posts. Texas DPS regulates armed and unarmed guards, personal protection officers, private investigators, alarm and access-control professionals, armored-car couriers, and other licensed roles. The figures below separate licensing activity from employment estimates, so readers can use each number in its proper context.
Citable figures
Texas private-security licenses issued
individual private-security licenses were issued by Texas DPS in fiscal year 2025. The total includes new and renewal program licenses, not a count of people currently working a post.
Source: Texas DPS, FY 2025 ↗Texas private-security business licenses issued
business licenses were issued by Texas DPS in fiscal year 2025. Texas regulates private security under Occupations Code Chapter 1702.
Source: Texas DPS, FY 2025 ↗Texas security-guard employment
security guards were employed in Texas in May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The reported annual mean wage was $35,700.
Source: BLS, May 2023 ↗Dallas–Fort Worth security-guard employment
security guards were employed in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metro area in May 2023. The reported annual mean wage was $37,760.
Source: BLS, May 2023 ↗National median annual pay
was the median annual wage for U.S. security guards in May 2025. Pay varies by assignment, employer, experience, location, and licensing requirements.
Source: BLS, May 2025 ↗Projected annual openings
openings per year are projected nationally, on average, for security guards and gambling surveillance officers from 2025 through 2035. BLS attributes most openings to replacement needs rather than rapid employment growth.
Source: BLS, 2025–35 projection ↗Private-industry violence cases
nonfatal cases involving intentional injury by another person required days away from work, restricted duty, or job transfer across private industry during 2021–2022. The annualized rate was 2.9 cases per 10,000 full-time workers.
Source: BLS, 2021–2022 ↗Health care and social assistance
was the annualized rate of workplace-violence cases requiring days away, restricted duty, or job transfer in 2021–2022. It was the highest rate among the private-industry sectors reported by BLS.
Source: BLS, 2021–2022 ↗How to read the data
Texas DPS reports licenses issued during the fiscal year, including new and renewed licenses. These figures show regulatory activity, not a headcount of active professionals on a given day.
BLS employment figures estimate jobs in a specific occupation and area. They do not include every role licensed under Texas private-security law.
BLS workplace-violence figures cover cases that required time away, restricted duty, or a job transfer. They describe reported cases, not every incident or every security need.
Methodology and sources
This guide uses the latest relevant public releases available when it was updated. Each statistic links directly to its source. Guardian does not calculate, adjust, or estimate the figures shown here.
Source date: October 31, 2025
Texas private-security licensing, complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions.
Source date: May 2023
Texas and Dallas–Fort Worth security-guard employment and mean wages.
Source date: May 2025 data and 2025–35 projections
National pay, employment outlook, and annual openings.
Source date: October 7, 2024
Private-industry workplace-violence cases requiring time away, restricted duty, or job transfer.
Cite this page
Guardian Investigations & Security. “Texas Private Security Statistics: 2026 Reference Guide.” Updated October 8, 2026. guardianinvestigations.online/security-statistics.
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