Door supervisor
Also known as: bar doorman, nightclub doorman, bouncer, disco doorman
About this occupation
Door supervisors ensure that the people entering public places such as bars, restaurants and concert venues are suitable and that they do not represent potential problems. They enforce legal regulations by checking individuals' legal age to enter a bar, manage crowds and emergencies, monitor dress codes and handle aggressive and abusive behaviours.
A specialisation of security guard.
Essential skills and knowledge
- control crowd
- detain offenders
- comply with the principles of self-defence
- perform security checks
- identify security threats
- react calmly in stressful situations
- restrain individuals
- handle veterinary emergencies
- show confidence
- monitor guest access
- handle conflicts
- ensure public safety and security
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Parking Enforcement Workers (O*NET 33-3041.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Enter and retrieve information pertaining to vehicle registration, identification, and status, using hand-held computers.
- Maintain close communications with dispatching personnel, using two-way radios or cell phones.
- Patrol an assigned area by vehicle or on foot to ensure public compliance with existing parking ordinance.
- Identify vehicles in violation of parking codes, checking with dispatchers when necessary to confirm identities or to determine whether vehicles need to be booted or towed.
- Write warnings and citations for illegally parked vehicles.
- Appear in court at hearings regarding contested traffic citations.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Enterprising
Top skills: Speaking, Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management
US median pay: US$46,730 a year (2025), 9,050 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.8)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.4)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Parking Attendants
- Security Guards
- Transit and Railroad Police
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
- Highway Maintenance Workers
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
- Traffic Technicians
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.