Quick Answer: What Does Private Security Cost in 2025–2026?
| Service Type | Typical Rate (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unarmed guard | $24–$34/hr (avg $29.60) | Most common; retail, commercial, events |
| Armed guard | $34–$45/hr (avg $38.21) | Required license and weapons permit |
| Armed + vehicle | ~$59.68/hr | Mobile patrol or high-value transport |
| Executive protection | $72–$85/hr (avg $80.57) | Close protection, advance work |
| Event / venue | ~$28/hr | Concerts, corporate events, sports |
| Lead / supervisor | ~$35.79/hr | Team coordination on larger deployments |
These are real rates from 6,464 booked jobs over the last 90 days through the Calvis marketplace. They represent what clients actually pay — not list prices or estimates.
Why Understanding Security Costs Matters in 2025–2026
Hiring security without a clear grasp of market pricing is one of the most common budget mistakes businesses make. Overpaying a traditional agency by 30–50% is normal when there is no benchmark. Underpaying and getting unlicensed or undertrained personnel is a liability risk that dwarfs any savings.
The security labor market has also shifted significantly since 2022. Wage floors have risen in most major metros, licensed guard supply has tightened in some markets, and demand from construction, healthcare, and retail sectors remains elevated. Understanding what drives pricing helps you plan a realistic budget and ask the right questions of any provider.
Average Private Security Guard Costs
The rates in the table above are not theoretical. The $29.60/hr average for unarmed guards reflects real bookings across retail stores, apartment complexes, construction sites, office buildings, and logistics facilities. The $38.21/hr armed average includes both foot-posted and mobile assignments.
A few numbers worth anchoring on for annual planning:
- •An unarmed guard at $29.60/hr working 40 hours per week costs roughly $4,736/month or $56,832/year before any markup.
- •An armed guard at $38.21/hr on the same schedule costs approximately $6,114/month or $73,370/year.
- •A 24/7 covered post (168 hours per week) at unarmed rates runs around $247,000/year in labor alone.
These figures assume no overtime premiums. Many 24/7 posts require shift differentials for overnight and weekend coverage, which typically add $2–5/hr to the base rate.
Factors That Influence Security Pricing
Type of Service
Armed vs. unarmed is the single largest pricing variable. Armed guards carry additional licensing requirements, weapons permits, firearms training, and higher liability insurance — all of which are reflected in the rate. Armed security guards typically cost $8–$12/hr more than comparable unarmed positions.
Executive protection sits in a category of its own. Rates averaging $80.57/hr reflect specialized training in threat assessment, advance work, motorcade procedures, and medical response that most security professionals do not have.
Event security runs slightly below the unarmed average in many markets because deployments are concentrated and supervisable, reducing per-guard overhead.
Location and Risk Level
Geography creates meaningful cost variation. Based on actual booked jobs:
| Metro | Avg Rate |
|---|---|
| Miami | $35.54/hr |
| New York City | $34.69/hr |
| Denver | $33.95/hr |
| Newark | $32.39/hr |
| Nashville | $31.11/hr |
| Austin | $30.73/hr |
| Chicago | $29.86/hr |
| Phoenix | $29.28/hr |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | $27.01/hr |
| Atlanta | $25.91/hr |
Miami and NYC command the highest rates due to living costs, licensing density, and demand. Atlanta and Dallas come in lowest among major metros. Smaller markets vary significantly — rural assignments often carry a travel premium that can offset lower base wages.
Duration of Service
Short-duration bookings (one shift, one event) generally cost more per hour than ongoing contracts. Multi-week and multi-month engagements allow agencies to plan staffing efficiently and reduce administrative overhead, which can lower the effective rate. That said, with a no-contract-lock-in marketplace model, the difference is often smaller than with traditional agencies.
Overnight and weekend shifts typically carry a $2–5/hr differential. Holiday coverage — especially Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and July 4th — can add 15–25% to standard rates due to supply constraints.
Technology Integration
Posts that require guards to operate camera systems, access control panels, or incident reporting software may carry a slight premium, particularly if certifications are required. Conversely, sites with robust camera infrastructure can sometimes reduce guard headcount and total cost.
What You Get for the Cost
At $29.60/hr for an unarmed guard, you are paying for:
- •A background-verified individual with no disqualifying criminal history
- •State-issued guard card (licensing requirements vary by state but typically include 8–40 hours of pre-assignment training)
- •Liability insurance coverage through the agency
- •Shift supervision and accountability tracking
- •Incident reporting and communication
At $38.21/hr for armed coverage, add: firearms training and qualification, weapons permit compliance, and higher insurance limits. At $80.57/hr for executive protection, add: specialized threat-assessment training, advance team coordination capability, and experience operating in high-visibility environments.
Why Security Costs Are Rising
Two forces are pushing security labor costs upward and are unlikely to reverse:
Rising wage floors. Sixteen states now have minimum wages above $15/hr, with California at $16/hr and Washington state above $16.28/hr as of 2024. Security guard wages are not set at minimum wage, but a rising floor raises the entire wage curve. Many metro markets now have effective floors for licensed guards above $18–20/hr.
Technology integration costs. Modern agencies invest in real-time GPS tracking, digital incident reporting, background monitoring services, and mobile platforms. These costs are passed through in billing rates. The upside: the same technology gives clients real-time visibility into what they are paying for.
Traditional agencies typically add a 25–75% markup over guard wages to cover overhead, profit, and (in some cases) inefficiency. A guard earning $18/hr may be billed to the client at $28–32/hr. Transparent marketplace pricing makes this spread visible.
How to Budget for Security
Short-term (events, one-time needs): Calculate expected hours and multiply by the service rate for your market and guard type. Add 15% for contingency (shift overruns, emergency additions). Use the ranges in this guide as your benchmark — if a quote is significantly above or below, ask why.
Ongoing monthly coverage: Build your annual guard budget around the formulas above. Lock in committed rates with your provider for predictability. Factor in holiday premiums and any overtime requirements.
Scaling coverage: If you need to expand from one site to multiple, or from part-time to full-time coverage, the per-guard cost typically stays flat on a marketplace — there is no volume discount structure but also no volume premium.
Understanding what security actually costs is the first step toward spending that budget effectively. Explore real market rates and book by the shift with no long-term contract at Calvis, or start with the security guard cost guide to compare options by service type and location.