INSTITUTIONS IN 45 STATES RESPONDED TO A QUESTIONNAIRE ELICITING INFORMATION ON SALARIES FOR ENTRY-LEVEL PERSONNEL, NUMBER OF ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS, PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, LATERAL ENTRY, EXCLUSION FROM EMPLOYMENT, MINIMUM AGE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, TURNOVER RATES, INSERVICE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND RELATED FACTORS. ENTRY-LEVEL MONTHLY SALARIES AS OF MAY 1974 RANGE FROM $485 TO $938. SOUTHEASTERN STATES GENERALLY REPORT THE LOWEST SALARIES. THERE IS A WIDE VARIATION IN THE NUMBER OF ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS ALLOW LATERAL ENTRY. DATA ON EXCLUSION FROM EMPLOYMENT ON THE GROUNDS OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS, DRUG INVOLVEMENT, AND FELONY CONVICTIONS SUGGEST THAT MOST DEPARTMENTS JUDGE A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE'S BACKGROUND ON THE BASIS OF A COMBINATION OF CONSIDERATIONS, NOT ON A SINGLE FACTOR. THE MAJORITY OF STATES REPORT THAT THE AVERAGE SECURITY OFFICER HAS A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND THAT THE TYPICAL ENTRY-LEVEL SECURITY OFFICER IS OVER AGE 30. DATA ON TURNOVER RATES INDICATE THAT BETWEEN 20 AND 40 PERCENT OF EMPLOYEES LEAVE ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS DURING THE FIRST YEAR. TABULAR DATA BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA ARE INCLUDED.