Pharmacist vs Security Guard

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Pharmacist

Easier to Obtain

Security Guard

Lower Fee

Security Guard

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Pharmacist	Security Guard
Category	Healthcare	Public Safety
Median Salary	$136,030	$36,970
Avg Initial Fee	$402	$74
Difficulty	Very High	Low
Education	PharmD (6 years)	Guard Training (8-40 hours)
Exam	NAPLEX + MPJE	State Guard Card Exam
Time to License	6-8 years	1-2 weeks
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	30 hrs	8 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	35 of 53

Salary Comparison

Pharmacist

Median Salary$136,030

Avg Salary$136,030

Avg License Fee$402

Security Guard

Median Salary$36,970

Avg Salary$36,970

Avg License Fee$74

Pharmacist earns $99,060 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $990,600 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

PharmacistView all 53 state requirements Security GuardView all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Pharmacist or Security Guard?

Pharmacist has a higher median salary at $136,030 per year, compared to $36,970 for Security Guard — a difference of $99,060 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Pharmacist or a Security Guard?

Pharmacist licensing is rated Very High difficulty, while Security Guard is rated Low. Pharmacist requires PharmD (6 years) and typically takes 6-8 years, compared to Guard Training (8-40 hours) and 1-2 weeks for Security Guard.

Which license costs more: Pharmacist or Security Guard?

Pharmacist has a higher average initial fee of $402, while Security Guard averages $74 — a difference of $328.

Do all states require a license for Pharmacist and Security Guard?

Pharmacist requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Security Guard requires it in 35 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Pharmacist or Security Guard?

Pharmacist typically takes 6-8 years from start to licensure, while Security Guard takes 1-2 weeks. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

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Detailed Comparison

Metric	Pharmacist	Security Guard
Category	Healthcare	Public Safety
Median Salary	$136,030	$36,970
Avg Initial Fee	$402	$74
Difficulty	Very High	Low
Education	PharmD (6 years)	Guard Training (8-40 hours)
Exam	NAPLEX + MPJE	State Guard Card Exam
Time to License	6-8 years	1-2 weeks
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	30 hrs	8 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	35 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Pharmacist or Security Guard?

Pharmacist has a higher median salary at $136,030 per year, compared to $36,970 for Security Guard — a difference of $99,060 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Pharmacist or a Security Guard?

Which license costs more: Pharmacist or Security Guard?

Pharmacist has a higher average initial fee of $402, while Security Guard averages $74 — a difference of $328.

Do all states require a license for Pharmacist and Security Guard?

Pharmacist requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Security Guard requires it in 35 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Pharmacist or Security Guard?

Pharmacist typically takes 6-8 years from start to licensure, while Security Guard takes 1-2 weeks. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.