How much does a security guard cost?

Most unarmed security guards in the US cost between $25 and $40 per hour, with a national average around $29.65/hr through Calvis. Armed guards run higher — commonly $35 to $60 per hour — because of licensing, firearm qualification, and liability. Your actual rate depends on location, whether the guard is armed, shift length, and whether it's a one-off or recurring booking. With Calvis there are no booking fees, so the hourly rate you see is the rate you pay.

Across markets, the average unarmed security guard rate through Calvis is about $29.65 per hour, sitting near the middle of the typical $25–$40 industry band. Armed officers and specialized roles (executive protection, fire watch, data center posts) price above that. Major metros like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles trend toward the high end; smaller markets toward the low end.

Armed guards carry additional state licensing, firearm qualification, ongoing training, and insurance requirements, and they take on higher-risk assignments. That raises both the guard's pay and the agency's liability cost, so armed rates typically run $10–$20/hr above unarmed for a comparable post.

No. Calvis does not add booking fees or hidden platform charges on top of the guard rate. You see transparent hourly pricing before you commit, and the rate quoted is what you pay. That's a meaningful difference from brokers that mark up rates or tack on service fees.

Usually, yes. Recurring and ongoing contracts give agencies predictable scheduling, so per-hour rates for steady weekly coverage are typically lower than one-off or emergency same-day bookings. Longer shifts (8–12 hours) are also generally more economical per hour than short 2–4 hour posts, which carry a higher blended hourly rate.

The biggest drivers are: armed vs. unarmed, your metro (labor markets vary widely), shift length and time of day (overnight and short shifts cost more per hour), one-off vs. recurring coverage, the number of guards, and any specialized requirements like executive protection, fire watch logging, or data center access-control experience. Calvis prices each of these transparently and shows you the rate up front.

Generally, yes. Mobilizing an officer covers the same vetting, travel, and scheduling whether the post runs 3 hours or 12, so very short posts carry a higher blended hourly rate. Longer shifts spread that cost out and bring the per-hour rate down. Calvis shows your exact rate up front when you request a quote, so there are no surprises.

Use the quote flow at /bid: enter your guard type, location, and schedule, and you'll see real market rates for your area in seconds — no account or payment required to see pricing. You can accept the market rate or name your own and let licensed agencies bid for the job.