A CCTV operator monitors live or recorded camera feeds — public-space (council and BID-funded city-centre control rooms), private retail or logistics, casino, or transport hub — and acts on what they see: dispatching guards, alerting police, or preserving footage for prosecution.

The SIA Public Space Surveillance (PSS) licence is non-negotiable for any operator monitoring areas open to the public. Recorded footage that ends up in court can only be admitted if the operator was licensed when it was captured, which is why every reputable control room insists on it. Shift patterns are unforgiving: 12-hour days and nights are standard in retail and city-centre rooms; some private contracts run 8-hour shifts but expect weekend rotation. Pay ranges from £11 to £14 in most of the country, £14-£17 in London and Manchester city control rooms.

Watch out for "CCTV operator wanted" ads from logistics yards that quietly mean "warehouse worker who occasionally looks at the cameras" — those don't always need a PSS licence and the pay reflects that. Career-wise, operators often move into investigations, retail loss prevention, or supervisor roles in the same control room. The PSS licence also stacks nicely with the Door Supervisor and Security Guard licences for guards who want to multi-license.

CCTV Operator Jobs

Security Officer

Newark
£14 per hour
Job Type: Contract
Posted: 10-07-2026
On behalf of the client we are. recruiting for the below position, please apply if you feel you are interested in the below role. About the role. Title – Security officer. Pay Rate – £13.67. Location 📍– Newark. Shift Timings – Full time, 42 hours per week... Read more
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Security officer

Birmingham
£13 per hour
Job Type: Contract
Posted: 10-07-2026
About the role. Title – Security officer. Pay Rate – £13.45. Location – Birmingham. Shift Timings – Full time, night and day shifts, must be available to work weekends. You will be working in a well-known retail store, which holds various stock. Officers ... Read more
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Security Control Room Operator

SK1, Stockport
£16 per hour
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 10-07-2026
Operations Centre Operator / Security Control Room Operator. Shift pattern: 4 days (0700-1900), 4 off, 4 nights (1900-0700), 4 off. Location: Stockport, SK1. Salary: £16.13 per hour. Circa £35,227, plus overtime opportunities. Would you like to work at a ... Read more
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Security Guard

Bedford, Bedfordshire
£15 per hour
Job Type: Contract
Posted: 10-07-2026
Security Guard (Night Shift) – Bedfordshire. Location: Bedfordshire. Hours: 5 Night Shifts per Week. Pay Rate: £15.00 per Hour. Requirement: Valid SIA Licence Essential. Security Guard – Immediate Start Available. We are currently seeking a reliable and p... Read more
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Security Officer

Aberdeen, Aberdeen City
£14 per hour
Job Type: Temporary
Posted: 10-07-2026
Approach Personnel are recruiting for Security Guard to work in Aberdeen, AB11. Great opportunity. Immediate start. £14.24ph. Hours - Working 4pm- 6am. Ongoing work. MUST HAVE A VALID SIA & CSCS BADGE. Benefits. Working alongside a great team. Working for... Read more
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Concierge / Security Officer

Manchester, Greater Manchester
£27,635 per annum
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 10-07-2026
Chetham's School of Music is seeking a Concierge/Security Officer to join the internationally renowned specialist music school located in city centre Manchester. Chetham's is a magical place, home to the UK's largest specialist music school, the oldest li... Read more
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Residential Security Officer

Ascot, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
£40,000 per annum
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 09-07-2026
Operation of CCTV and access control systems. Produce accurate and comprehensive incident reports. Ensure all Health & Safety policies are adhered to. Work in conjunction with site Assignment Instructions. Respond to emergency situations. Work as part of ... Read more
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Fire And Security Engineer

Oxford, Oxfordshire
£38,000 per annum
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 09-07-2026
Delivering security, fire and life-safety systems across Oxfordshire, specialising in intruder alarms, CCTV, access control and fire detection. SSAIB approved, BAFE registered and CHAS accredited, Executive Alarms supports education, healthcare, hospitali... Read more
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Security Officer

Milton Keynes
£14 per hour
Job Type: Contract
Posted: 09-07-2026
Undertaking regular patrols, regular check calls, maintaining logs and passive CCTV monitoring. Effective monitoring of visitors and employees on-site and assisting to maintain high levels of site security. Understanding of adherence to Health and Safety ... Read more
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Area Security Officer

Harwell
£14 per hour
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 09-07-2026
We are currently recruiting for an exciting opportunity to join our client's team in Harwell, as a Area Security Officer, working at a modern medical company in the area! You will also be required to support with other contracts in Harwell, Didcot and Oxf... Read more
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Relief security Officer

South Coast
£14 per hour
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 09-07-2026
About the role. Title – Relief Security Officer. Pay Rate – 13.50. Location – South Coast. Shift Timings – Fully Flexible as per client requirement. You will be working in a well-known retail store, which holds various stock. Officers are responsible for ... Read more
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Area Security Officer

Bracknell
£14 per hour
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 09-07-2026
We have a great opportunity to join the team as an Area Security Officer, covering sites in the Thames Valley area such as Bracknell, Pirbright, Farnborough, and Reading. The role will be to cover a mixture of sites across the area, such as office spaces,... Read more
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Retail Security Officer

Weybridge
£15 per hour
Job Type: Contract
Posted: 09-07-2026
About the role. Title – Retail security officer. Pay Rate – £14.90. Location – Weybridge. Shift Timings – Full time, 40+ hours per week and must be able to work weekends. You will be working in a well-known retail store, which holds various stock. Officer... Read more
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Relief Security Officer

Reading
£14 per hour
Job Type: Contract
Posted: 09-07-2026
About the role. Title – Relief Security Officer. Pay Rate. £13.50. Location – Reading. Shift Timings – Fully Flexible as per clients requirement. You will be working in a well-known retail store, which holds various stock. Officers are responsible for pro... Read more
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Retail Security Officer

Southall
£13 per hour
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 09-07-2026
About the role. Title – Retail Security Officer. Pay Rate. £13.45. Location. Southall. Shift Timings – Fully Flexible as per clients requirement. You will be working in a well-known retail store, which holds various stock. Officers are responsible for pro... Read more
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CCTV Operator

Leeds
Not Specified
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 08-07-2026
We are seeking two reliable and proactive CCTV Operators to join our Security Operations Centre (SOC). In this role, you will be responsible for remotely monitoring and responding to incidents across the PureGym estate, including sites in the UK, USA, and... Read more
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Security Officer

Avonmouth
£13 per hour
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 08-07-2026
Position: Security Officer. Location: Avonmouth Distribution Centre. Pay Rate: £13.17 per hour. Hours: Various. Shifts: Various- including days and nights. SG / DS SIA licence required. Applicants will have a Full Driving Licence and access to a vehicle. ... Read more
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Security Officer

Plymouth
Not Specified
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 08-07-2026
Job Advert. Security Officer. Part-time permanent position (24 hours per week. Plymouth, Cattedown Wharves. The Role. Providing first line security to the Port/Tanker berth outside working hours to Cattedown Wharves Limited (Part of the James Fisher Group... Read more
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Retail Security Officer

Guildford
£15 per hour
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 08-07-2026
Position: Retail Security Officer. Locations: Guildford. Pay Rate: £14.70 per hour. Hours & Shifts: Various. Applicants will hold an SIA Licence. Your Time at Work. As a Retail Security Officer you will be responsible for. To provide a visible uniformed d... Read more
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Security Officer

Epsom, Surrey
£13 per hour
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 08-07-2026
We are looking to recruit an experienced, customer focused Security Officer for a prestigious client in the Epsom area. This is a very customer focused role, so we are seeking to recruit personnel with a very high level of customer service skills, excelle... Read more
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Frequently asked questions

Do you need a licence to work as a CCTV operator?

Yes, if you're monitoring areas open to the public. The SIA Public Space Surveillance licence is mandatory for any operator whose footage may be used in court — that includes most city-centre control rooms, retail park monitoring, and casino surveillance.

What hours do CCTV operators work?

Twelve-hour shifts are standard, often on a four-on-four-off pattern or two days / two nights / four off. Night work is common in retail and city-centre control rooms.

How much do CCTV operators earn?

£11-£14 an hour is the norm across most of the UK. London and Manchester city-centre control rooms typically pay £14-£17. Casino and high-end private control rooms can pay more, often £15-£18.