Salary/Benefits?

[Watchdog]

What is the beginning and top salary for security guards where you work?
I work at a small, privately owned company which starts at $9/hr for a basic unarmed guard to $10-$12 for armed and then a bit more for supervisory positions. Which I think is about the average for most basic security companies unless you are working armored truck or at a more elite security force such as for VIPs and government officials.
They also provide full medical for about $25/mo for a single person.

[N. A. Corbier]

What is the beginning and top salary for security guards where you work?
I work at a small, privately owned company which starts at $9/hr for a basic unarmed guard to $10-$12 for armed and then a bit more for supervisory positions. Which I think is about the average for most basic security companies unless you are working armored truck or at a more elite security force such as for VIPs and government officials.
They also provide full medical for about $25/mo for a single person.

I will find the link, but the federal government has average rate of pay for most industries, including the job classification "security guard," which includes for OSHA/DOL standards "Security Officers, Security Guards, Campus Safety Officers, Campus Police Officers (Non-Sworn)," etc.

I believe the national average was $9.46 an hour. Since the majority of security guards are unarmed, that would be unarmed pay.

[Arff312]

Well first off let me state that Security is my second job and i do it because i like it not for the money. I make 9.25 / hr unarmed at the local mall.My normal job is military firefighter.

[mallpopo]

where are you gonna find a Campus Police Officer that is non-sworn? The word Police Officer is in their title!!!

[N. A. Corbier]

where are you gonna find a Campus Police Officer that is non-sworn? The word Police Officer is in their title!!!

University of Wisconsin Protective Services, Carthage College, Saint Petersburg College...

Police does not imply a public authority in every state.

[mallpopo]

I checked the various UW websites. The Police Officers assigned to those campuses are SWORN Police Officers. I'm guessing because it is state property(much like public university/college police in Illinois). Nowhere on the Carthage College website does it say they are Police Officers. They are security and do not use Police anywhere in their title. I could not find a website for St. Petersburg

[mallpopo]

Additionally I don't know of any state where POLICE does not imlpy authority...Unless maybe if you are the fashion police

[N. A. Corbier]

Additionally I don't know of any state where POLICE does not imlpy authority...Unless maybe if you are the fashion police

Wisconsin State Statue 440.26(1m)(h)
(h) "Private Security Person" or "Private Security Personnel" means any private police, guard, or any person who stands watch for security persons.

Kenosha Private Police, Racine Private Police, and other companies with "Private Police" have non-sworn civilian security officers. They are authorized to use the term "private police officer," "private police agency," and other terms, by regulation and statute. This bestows no public authority on them.

[CAR54]

"I've heard" that in N.Y. many guards are unionized and make considerably more then most states which might bring up the average. On the other hand I also have a friend that works as an unarmed post commander in Florida and only pulls in $8.25.

Here in California I'm making $9.00 an hour, which is considered decent pay for someone with no previous experience at an unarmed post. Most positions here start around $8.25-8.50 per hour.

[ArmoredTrk in Az]

Unarmed guards here in Phx, Az. start at $9 p/h. I have talked to a few armed guards at Circle K & QuikTrip that are making $10 p/h. Most armored car companies are starting new people out at $ 11 p/h.
The contract security people at Luke AFB are making $17 p/h but NO benefits.

[N. A. Corbier]

That's ridiculous.

That's the service industry. Isn't it wonderful? And the companies will fight any increase in wages, because the clients won't stand for it. After all, when your going with the lowest bidder, any company trying to raise the bar will lose their bids.

The only thing you can do is absorb loss whereever possible and translate that to increased wages, or demonstrate to the bidding client that you will provide a superior service than the idiot bidding 3 guards at 5.50 per hour. Especially when you point out that they'll be charging you 75 dollars when a supervisor does a post inspection for a "on site radio fee," or they'll be charging additional fees for having a cell phone on site ("We bid for a guard. You get one guard, one uniform, one log book. You want him to have a way to call the police? We lease cell phones, client responsible for billing."), or for a vehicle.

I've seen all these things happen, its rather amusing to watch a client's bill go from 8.50 per man hour to 12.50, while they're still getting an employee paid 5.50.

[N. A. Corbier]

Unarmed guards here in Phx, Az. start at $9 p/h. I have talked to a few armed guards at Circle K & QuikTrip that are making $10 p/h. Most armored car companies are starting new people out at $ 11 p/h.
The contract security people at Luke AFB are making $17 p/h but NO benefits.

Who are those contract security? Wackenhut Government Services? Those may actually be "Wackenhut Federal Police," and they're SUPPOSED to be getting benefits. :)

Yep, Wackenhut runs a police department. And a correctional agency in Florida, and I believe several other states. Private law enforcement and corrections for state and federal government.

[N. A. Corbier]

"I've heard" that in N.Y. many guards are unionized and make considerably more then most states which might bring up the average. On the other hand I also have a friend that works as an unarmed post commander in Florida and only pulls in $8.25.

Here in California I'm making $9.00 an hour, which is considered decent pay for someone with no previous experience at an unarmed post. Most positions here start around $8.25-8.50 per hour.

When I was last in Florida, the average employee made 6.75 to 7.00 an hour. Supervisors got a .50 to 1.50 raise. Armed officers were paid 8.00 to 9.00 an hour. Supervisors got a .50 to 2.00 raise.

Most companies took the supervisors and made them salary employees, calling them "junior management." Great, you make 12 bucks, but you put in 4 hours at the office, then another 10 or 12 on the road at night. Oh, and your also the management representative, which means if something bad happens - your dealing with it, DO NOT CALL THE OWNER.

[ArmoredTrk in Az]

USProtect has an AF contract for several bases. I have a friend who has worked at Luke AFB as one of the contract guards. He started with Worldwide Protection , USProtect has had the contract for a year. They are not sure who will get the contract in Dec. They keep the same guards , just change the company and uniforms.

[P68]

Contract Security Guards at the facility I work at start at $10.25 as a regular guard. $14.42 for the shift Lieutenant. No real benefits to speak of other than a weeks vacation and a real crappy accident and injury insurance plan. The in house security officers at the facility start around $15.00/hr full benifits. 3 weeks vacation, blue cross/blue shield, 401k, delta dental, and more. This is a large metropolitan hospital. Officers are unarmed and have no police powers.

[N. A. Corbier]

Contract Security Guards at the facility I work at start at $10.25 as a regular guard. $14.42 for the shift Lieutenant. No real benefits to speak of other than a weeks vacation and a real crappy accident and injury insurance plan. The in house security officers at the facility start around $15.00/hr full benifits. 3 weeks vacation, blue cross/blue shield, 401k, delta dental, and more. This is a large metropolitan hospital. Officers are unarmed and have no police powers.

Semantics question: What's the difference between a Contact Security Guard and an in house security officer? I noticed that you consistantly use the term guard for the contract personnel, and officer for the in house?

I ask people to evaluate why they use the terms they use on a regular basis, to see if it was ingrained upon them, or if they came to it themselves.

[P68]

Semantics question: What's the difference between a Contact Security Guard and an in house security officer? I noticed that you consistantly use the term guard for the contract personnel, and officer for the in house?

I ask people to evaluate why they use the terms they use on a regular basis, to see if it was ingrained upon them, or if they came to it themselves.

No particular reason why i use Guard and Officer. Same thing different name as far as i am concerned. The difference between a contract officer and an in house one is the person who signes the paycheck. Contract guards work for a company who provides security services to the client. The client, in this case a hospital, has in house officers that work directly for the hospital. There are usually 2 in house officers per shift. One as a dispatcher and one as the officer in charge/supervisor who represents the client to the public and other agencies. The rest of the shift is made up of contract security personell. the contract security service also provides a supervisor but that supervisor only has authority to deal with the contract security service's matters and not those of the client.

[N. A. Corbier]

That seems counter-productive. The headaches from dealing with contract/direct employee disputes plus the liability of having your own in-house guards doesn't seem worth having 2 sets of guards.

Go all contract, or stay in-house IMO. Not both.

I have to agree. Most companies take contract security to reduce actual and perceptual liability concerns. Its not your percieved or actual liability policy that's protecting the hospital now, its the security company's.

To introduce your own uniformed security in a supervisory position above the contract increases the real liability of the site, because now, any agrieved party can sue the contract company for executing the orders, and the hospital for its guards issuing them.

Not to mention the little fifedoms that exist between employees of the same pay grade (security officer vs. security officer) believing one is better than the other because they are "in-house," as if this social status means anything.

Careful attention to discipline in the contract security force is required in these circumstances, not to detect lapses in discipline by the contract force, but by the in-house force using them in ways that the contract does not specify, or attempting to directly discipline them.

I can see a uniformed supervisor/client representative, but not regular security officers. It is a duplication of services. If the client cannot train the security department to represent itself, then the client may need to reconsider using a contract force.

Oh, hell, I'm starting to type like Bill Warnock. :)

[Tennsix]

University of Wisconsin Protective Services, Carthage College, Saint Petersburg College...

Police does not imply a public authority in every state.
So people working at those places are called police officers but have no police powers or authority? Some private colleges/universities have an actual police force. A lot of people might think they are security officers but they are actually police officers.

Some private colleges/universities have an actual police force. A lot of people might think they are security officers but they are actually police officers. The public often equates campus or university police with security. A lot of people don?t realize the difference until they are the subject of some sort of enforcement action.

[N. A. Corbier]

So people working at those places are called police officers but have no police powers or authority? Some private colleges/universities have an actual police force. A lot of people might think they are security officers but they are actually police officers.

Some private colleges/universities have an actual police force. A lot of people might think they are security officers but they are actually police officers. The public often equates campus or university police with security. A lot of people don?t realize the difference until they are the subject of some sort of enforcement action.

University of Wisconsin has University Police Officers, but there is case law explaining how that came about. They used to have "security police officers," or "security officers," or whatever you wanted to call them. They were a political subdivision of the state, yet were not sworn law enforcement officers. Wisconsin law authorizes a citizen to make an arrest for any breach of the peace committed in their presence or about to be committed, or reasonable belief it will be committed again. The schools used this power, and the lack of security licensing, to simply issue guns, badges, and uniforms to people, and give them a law enforcement mission. The Teamster's union finally went to bat for them and said, "You have to pay them as police, they're doing the job of the police." The defense was "They're private police, not public." That didn't fly, because the officers were employed by a public institution.

The term "Police Officer" in Wiscosnin can mean a "Private Police Officer," who does not require to be sworn, or a "Public Law Enforcement Officer," who does require to be sworn.

Also, I haven't heard of private institutions having public law enforcement agencies. I know that in Florida, the Junior Colleges can't afford to have police, so they hire security companies and give them a bunch of statutory redefinitions (Battery becomes a felony, ability to write tickets, etc) that apply only when working for a regent board of a state JC.

[Tennsix]

Interesting. I have never heard of such situation.

I am a police officer a major state university PD. We are regular officers just like any other PD. My PD operates one of the state?s three police academies and our graduates go on to all levels of criminal justice and law enforcement. For a long time, we had the only SWAT team in the area and they were routinely called out to other jurisdictions. I have worked for a city PD and a county SO, so I can genuinely say we are no different. As a matter of fact, I left the SO to work for the university PD. Excellent pay, excellent training, outstanding officers, and plenty to do.

In Indiana, only a bona fide police officer may utilize that title. Most of our PD?s are government agencies but there are a few private police agencies (private university and rail road agencies). The private cops are the real deal.

[N. A. Corbier]

Interesting. I have never heard of such situation.

I am a police officer a major state university PD. We are regular officers just like any other PD. My PD operates one of the state?s three police academies and our graduates go on to all levels of criminal justice and law enforcement. For a long time, we had the only SWAT team in the area and they were routinely called out to other jurisdictions. I have worked for a city PD and a county SO, so I can genuinely say we are no different. As a matter of fact, I left the SO to work for the university PD. Excellent pay, excellent training, outstanding officers, and plenty to do.

In Indiana, only a bona fide police officer may utilize that title. Most of our PD?s are government agencies but there are a few private police agencies (private university and rail road agencies). The private cops are the real deal.

I've heard good things (mostly) about university police departments. Bigger budgets, less BS, etc. I've worked with USF police (Our sites were in USF jurisdiction), and found them to be professional, and useful. :)

I'm unfamiliar with any private college that is afforded police powers for its safety staff. The Railroad Police, on the other hand, all seem to have some kind of quazi-federal authority, as well as state authority. While the days of CSX Police firing buckshot at a fleeing hobo may be gone (I hope) for the simple crime of trespass, they're still out there. :)

[Tennsix]

Well, university PD?s are just like any other. They come in good, bad and everything in between. As for private universities with PD's, Butler and Norte Dame Universities (both indiana univ's) are two examples of private police agencies with full powers.

Another fallacy is that university police are restricted to campus/university grounds. Indiana case law allows all police officers to excerise their powers throughout the state. Additionally, our PD has reciprocity with county sheriff?s department

When people ask if we are real cops I come back with, "Would you ask a university mechanic, physician, aircraft pilot, architect, or firefighter if they are genuine? The answer is always "no". Then why would you question our authenticity?

[N. A. Corbier]

Well, university PD?s are just like any other. They come in good, bad and everything in between. As for private universities with PD's, Butler and Norte Dame Universities (both indiana univ's) are two examples of private police agencies with full powers.

Another fallacy is that university police are restricted to campus/university grounds. Indiana case law allows all police officers to excerise their powers throughout the state. Additionally, our PD has reciprocity with county sheriff?s department

When people ask if we are real cops I come back with, "Would you ask a university mechanic, physician, aircraft pilot, architect, or firefighter if they are genuine? The answer is always "no". Then why would you question our authenticity?

People don't seem to get that "political subdivision of the state" part. :)

[young_buck]

Hey, im new here.

Im from Canada, and I take it most of you are from the USA. Anyways, I work for a large health region, and am involved with the Hospital Security part of things. Our pay scale ranges from 17.33-32.65.

[1stWatch]

Adding two cents, if I can afford them:
Most of the security companies I have seen in north Texas pay an average wage of $8.50 per hour with no insurance benefits. Additional income can be made by working a regular and large amount of overtime, which every place seems to have plenty of since their turnover rate of employment is high. I, for one work an average of 60 hours per week, but sometimes as much as 90 hours per week. There are a few places I have seen that compensate a bit more, but with no overtime available.
Very few companies are able to provide affordable health insurance here. That benefit is usually available to security officers who work for an "in-house" security operation, aka security department of private business, but not to those who work for a contract security operation, which is the more prominent type of security.

[EMTGuard]

Resurecting this thread since my W-2 tax form came in the mail this week. Here's the run down.
Hired fulltime in Louisiana for a contract Security Company in Febuary 2005 as unarmed Security Officer with Emergency Medical Technician duties.
Pay is $10.50 per hour and I work 12 hour night shifts, 6pm-6am.
Pay period is Bi weekly and I'm usually scheduled for a total of 84 hours per period (80 straight and 4 overtime) with occasional overtime shifts due to covering for fellow EMTs who were off duty.
According to my W-2 form, Box 1, Wages, Tips, Other Compensation- $20722.30.
Anyone else want to share?

[hemi444]

Not that I have gottne my w-2 for this year but I know in 2004 returns I grossed 38,986. This year I look for about a negative 10,000 this tax season.

[medic15al]

Here in Birmingham the average pay is 5.15-7.00 an hour, armed or not. I make 9.00. Alabama is unregulated totaly in the security field. You can can wear any badge or patch as long as it doesnt acutally say "POLICE or SHERIFF on it.

[N. A. Corbier]

Here in Birmingham the average pay is 5.15-7.00 an hour, armed or not. I make 9.00. Alabama is unregulated totaly in the security field. You can can wear any badge or patch as long as it doesnt acutally say "POLICE or SHERIFF on it.

I've heard stories about Alabama. When an old company I worked for took over a VA Police account, the guards were prepared to gratify the operations manager. He gave them Flying Cross Shirts, Flying Cross Pants, Duty Rigs, Pepper Spray, Handcuffs, and did a day long certification on OC and handcuffing.

There were remarks stated that 1) The previous outfit gave them two patches to sow on a shirt and jacket, 2) they would do anything the operations manager wanted. And I mean anything.

[hemi444]

Here in Birmingham the average pay is 5.15-7.00 an hour, armed or not.

Any employer that pays that amount in my own opinion should not be in the busisness. I know in the city of Philadelphia the usual rate for an armed guard is around 12 an hour, but 12 is still not enough with the areas they have some s/o's posted. If you go out of the city except for the inhouse programs you are looking at around 11 for armed. Most unarmed outfits in the area, pay around 8+ pending on the contract. I know guardsmark pays pretty well for unarmed personnel. I am realy considering in applying with them for an armed accounts or wackenhut due to there contract sites, pay scale and benefits.

[N. A. Corbier]

The pay scale I saw in Tampa Bay was:

Unarmed
6.00 Average
7.00 Above Average
8.00 Supervisory

Armed
8.00 Average
10.00 Above Average
12.00 Supervisory

I know what some salary pay rates were, but am still bound by NDA.

[Mr. Security]

The pay scale I saw in Tampa Bay was:

Unarmed
6.00 Average
7.00 Above Average
8.00 Supervisory..

GOOD GRIEF! Do they get food stamps with that to? :(

[Echos13]

The pay scale I saw in Tampa Bay was:

Unarmed
6.00 Average
7.00 Above Average
8.00 Supervisory

Armed
8.00 Average
10.00 Above Average
12.00 Supervisory

I know what some salary pay rates were, but am still bound by NDA.

That's pretty much right on the head N.A. The same goes in the Orlando areas. I live between the two and it's the same, if not worse. The center of the state has more WBC posts than you can shake a stick at. Little or no in-house to speak of unless you consider the Disney areas and hotels. But honestly they do not pay that much better believe it or not.

[N. A. Corbier]

GOOD GRIEF! Do they get food stamps with that to? :(

No, but you do get information on how to apply.

[1stWatch]

The pay scale I saw in Tampa Bay was:

Unarmed
6.00 Average
7.00 Above Average
8.00 Supervisory

Armed
8.00 Average
10.00 Above Average
12.00 Supervisory

I know what some salary pay rates were, but am still bound by NDA.

Those rates of pay are the average for Texas as well, except that the unarmed rates match the armed rates. Armed security usually does not get paid more.

[FiveSeven]

In CA armed usually get paid more then "un". The place I work (armed)I get $15.00/hr + free med (17.50+ for Sgt). We are suppose to get about $1.50+ raise pretty soon. But requirements are pretty high at my employment and we have lots of training every month (range, simulator and summunitions once in a while).

[N. A. Corbier]

What's the cost of living like in your area? I think that's an important factor when we all start citing pay rates. Look at NY, for example, where 10.00 an hour is cheap.

I'm a strong proponent of paying a living wage, and a little more if you can. Helping your employees with professional education. Making them feel wanted and needed, both financially and professionally.

I think we have such high turnover in this industry because people who just don't care come to work, figure out its more than sleeping at a desk, and leave.

WI's Security Advisory Committee, in 2001, discussed training for security. It never happened, but one of the reasons cited was "Persons with criminal convictions may be attracted to private security because of no pre-employment training or standardized testing." You have the sleep on duty crowd, the guys who got fired from the cleaning job for stealing on the clock, etc.

[FiveSeven]

Cost of living? Well, 1 bedroom apartment would be around $600. There are quite a few local companies that start @ $10-12 pay for armed officers. And like always you get what you pay for, not trained at all, unprofessional, uneducated (and I'm also talking about just plain common sense) and in most cases just borderline 5150's. Run across too many of them in the past, who knows maybe that's why the nationwide wages are so low in this field. I wish standards would be higher at least for the armed officers in this state and elsewhere.
At my employment we get more professional type and people with good background in military/LE and such.

[Brent311]

I work as a private school security officer in central Miss., and make $8/hour. Of course I am going to college at the same time so I only work 20-30 hours a week, so I guess it would be considered part-time. That is good pay considering the Securitas and Pendleton agencies in my area start out between $5.15-$6.00/hour.

[EMTGuard]

Just to clarify something, the numbers I cited in my post are from my tax form which is for SOw/EMT certification. I just asked my work partner, a Unarmed Security Officer and he told me he makes $8.50 per hour. I think, but not sure, that our company pays Armed SOs $9.50 per hour. So unless I become a supervisor I'm at the top of the pay scale for SOs with my company at $10.50 per hour that I get. That is pretty high for security positions around south Louisiana.

[N. A. Corbier]

How do you figure? I live in New York and lived comfortably on $10/hr. for a few years.

Comparative Cost of Living Index vs. Pay Scale.

"Comfortably" is variable.

[Mr. Security]

How do you figure? I live in New York and lived comfortably on $10/hr. for a few years.

How many hours per week, and where in NY?

[Mr. Security]

40 hours a week. Perinton, NY.

I don't understand how you can live "comfortably" on $400/week in that town w/o asking questions that are none of my business. I went to the town's web-site and it appears to be a nice place. I am a former accountant and have experience "crunching the numbers" and it's still a mystery. ;)

[hemi444]

I don't understand how you can live "comfortably" on $400/week in that town w/o asking questions that are none of my business. I went to the town's web-site and it appears to be a nice place. I am a former accountant and have experience "crunching the numbers" and it's still a mystery. ;)
I have a friend that owned property in Brooklyn and his prices are through the roof..starting at 600 a month.

[astorms]

Here are some Canadian stat's:

The average wage in Canada for a security guard/officer is around $10/hr. That includes LPO's. Most contract companies do not offer benefits, however, most retailers offer benefits for FT employees.

I am employed as a Special Constable (peace officer) and the pay range (depending on experience, who your employer is, etc) is $38,600 - $57,900/year. I've been here for a year, and have 8 yrs exp and bachelor in crim justice, and i Get $49,750/year with full benefits.

PI's can make some serious $$$, depending on the caseload. Corporate security advisors can make up to $70K here in Alberta, and higher in B.C and Ontario.

Adam

[FiveSeven]

What benefits? I though medical was free in Canada. That is you guys pay 50% and up in taxes.

[bigshotceo]

What benefits? I though medical was free in Canada. That is you guys pay 50% and up in taxes.

In many provinces most dental/optical work isn't covered; as well, private insurance often covers dispensing fees for medications, as well as stuff that isn't covered by public health insurance (such as anti-acne creams).

[astorms]

Canada is weird that way. Some provinces don't make you pay for 'basic' healthcare (Ontario for example) and some do make you pay (alberta). Anything extra, like eyecare, dental etc, can be covered by employers, or it cannot. For example, i get 100% coverage on dental, medical, prescriptions, but only get $600/2yrs for eyecare. Each company is different.

Most companies do not offer, any benefits to any part-time employees. Usually f/t and up. Furthermore, if you work for a gov't agency, the benefits are usually MUCH better. In addition, you don't really pay for the benefits. There are plans you can buy through private insurace (bluecross, etc) that get you benefits. And yes, our taxes are much higher than what you guys pay in the USA.

Adam

[Mr. Security]

My rent was $330 a month - included all utilities, cable internet, etc. (lived with a friend in a decent home). The only other bills I had was cell phone and car insurance.

Now it makes sense (cents). :)

[LavianoTS386]

I work at a Hospital in Troy, NY. We're contract security, under Allied Barton and I make $9.50 and hour, their starting rate (for the site)

[davis002]

In Minnesota, the median wage for security officers is $11.11 per hour, or $1,927 per month for a full-time worker. Half of all security officers earn between $9.35 and $13.88 per hour, or between $1,620 and $2,406 per month.

Nationally, the median wage for security officers is $1,660 per month ($9.60 per hour). Half of all security officers earn between $1,370 and $2,090 per month ($7.88 and $12.06 per hour).

In Minnesota, about 14,963 security officers work in this large occupation.

Nationally, about 995,500 security officers work in this large occupation. security jobs are found all over the nation.

[ycaso77]

Depends on the position and grade you're hired at with us. Starting is roughly 15.00 an hour for field officers and much higher for dispatchers and lead officers, averaging 19-22 to start. As they have several pay grades and steps its usually all over the place and takes a crystal ball and some runes to explain to new hires. But much better than comparable contract pays.

[HotelSecurity]

The 3 hotels I work for have the same principal owner & same senior management but are registered a individual companies. Therefore pay & other things are not the same at each hotel.

The largest, the downtown hotel, pays $13.48/hour after 1 year. (It starts at around $11.50). We also give free meals. Free parking. Prescription drug coverage. Free rooms when you have to do 2 shifts with only 8 hours between them. Employee rate at any of the chain's thousands of hotels world wide. 7 legal holidays per year (double time if you have to work). 5 sick days.

The Officers working at the 280 room hotel by the airport are considered employees of the downtown hotel & receive the same pay & benefits. The downtown hotel bills the airport hotel. Both a francises (sp?) of the same chain

Our newest hotel which is right next door to the other one at the airport only pays $10.00/hour with almost the same benefits but no sick days.

We are In-House.

In Quebec most Contract Security Officers are unionized. Those that are not are covered by a government decree. (I don't know exactly how this works since I have not worked contract security since 1976!) I believe the set rate for the contract people is presently $12.50/hour. (Sounds high compared to what a lot of you in the US are making but remember Quebec is the highest taxed place in North America-granted we have free medical care-government car insurance etc-also it's in Canadian dollars so we need to pay about 20% extra for a lot of the things we buy from the US).

[Michael Ledgerwood]

At Boeing where I work $14.25 - $30.00/hr. These are 1st shift wages. 2nd and 3rd shift wages are more due to shift differentials. We are all armed, proprietary security officers. We get all the same benefits as any Boeing employee.

[ozsecuritychic]

1230 -1730 18.00 per hr
fri 1800-2400 22.00 per hr
sat 1800-2400 27.00 per hr
we also get first aid allowance.
i also work for another company and got paid $300 for 6hrs on a sunday thats after tax.

[HotelSecurity]

1230 -1730 18.00 per hr
fri 1800-2400 22.00 per hr
sat 1800-2400 27.00 per hr
we also get first aid allowance.
i also work for another company and got paid $300 for 6hrs on a sunday thats after tax.

Have these rates been converted into US dollars?

[ozsecuritychic]

no sorry i have no idea what the conversion rate is.

[wjohnc]

The starting wage here is minimum wage ($6.50/hr), for contratuals, that is. Except for Memorial University Campus Enforcement & Patrol (about $14/hr) I know of no in-house uniformed security personnel.

Wages barely go up, to a top of about $12 - $14 an hour, but that's for supervisors and the like, and it's still bloody rare. Once in a while you might find someone with a ton of training or experience that gets like, 10, maybe 12 bucks, but it's rare.

Wages fluctuate with the sites, because some clients are charged more. When I was managing supervisor I saw differences of as much as $5/hr for individual guards working different sites.

I get $10, only because my company values my skills...and I've proven myself at my present post.

Benefits? Yeah, at a rate of better than $40/month single coverage.

wjohnc

[wjohnc]

For monetary conversion, check out http://www.xe.com.

wjohnc

[Mr. Security]

$18/hr. = $12.80 USD
$22/hr. = $15.64 USD
$27/hr. = $19.20 USD

Pretty good for mall security.

I agree. When I applied at a mall they were offering $10.00 USD. Ten bucks and they want you to confront and arrest violators even though you are unarmed. I don't think so. :eek:

[N. A. Corbier]

You can do the job of confronting and arresting violators unarmed (without a firearm, not without other weapons and restraints), but you have to know what the hell your doing, get regular training from somewhere in defensive tactics, and have body armor.

As much as I like the idea of arming folks, lets face it, several countries over the pond don't arm their average street cop. They're getting some officers killed, but that's a risk they'll take.

[HotelSecurity]

No gun, no body amour up here & I do make arrests when necessary. (I also work alone most of the time). 30 years working in downtown hotels & have never had a weapon pulled on me (yet :eek: )

[N. A. Corbier]

No gun, no body amour up here & I do make arrests when necessary. (I also work alone most of the time). 30 years working in downtown hotels & have never had a weapon pulled on me (yet :eek: )
You also don't have the gun and knife culture we do. :)

Does Canada have a knife culture?

[zharn]

Unfortunately, for those of us who work for a contract company it's all about the bottom line.Fortunatley the company i work for has distinguished itself here in town so he is able to ask for more and (sometimes get it).Most of the time you have to live with the lowest bidder syndrome.Most poeple simply dont are about the quality of guard,they care about the cost.i have no health insurance,provide most of my own gear and dont get paid a lot.This is offset by the amount of overtime 60 to 70 hours most weeks.Nature of the business i guess.I am lucky to have a boss who trains us a well and treats us well so that is a good thing.Huge turnover is a problem everywhere so nothing to bitch about.I love this work.

[HotelSecurity]

You also don't have the gun and knife culture we do. :)

Does Canada have a knife culture?

There are killings with guns & knifes in Montreal but I think they tend to be domestic or drug related. The motorcycle gangs were very active in the past few years. More likely to happen on the street or at a bar or club than in an hotel. I'm speaking generally of course.

Toronto also appears more violent than Montreal. They have a big gang problem there.

[1stWatch]

$18/hr. = $12.80 USD
$22/hr. = $15.64 USD
$27/hr. = $19.20 USD

Pretty good for mall security.

That is absolutely good for mall security. When I was doing that job in 1998, I made a whopping $7.50 per hour. In 2000, I worked at another mall making $9.50 per hour. Now they make around $10 per hour here for the same job.

[N. A. Corbier]

That is absolutely good for mall security. When I was doing that job in 1998, I made a whopping $7.50 per hour. In 2000, I worked at another mall making $9.50 per hour. Now they make around $10 per hour here for the same job.

Keep in mind, thats a foreign country. I'd want to see a spreadsheet on wage comparisons. For all we know, the kid behind the counter in the food court makes that wage.

[1stWatch]

Keep in mind, thats a foreign country. I'd want to see a spreadsheet on wage comparisons. For all we know, the kid behind the counter in the food court makes that wage.

That is true, but average wages also vary across the United States. If that is typical of the wages there, I would say they have a pretty good economy.

[Echos13]

What gets me about some of these places here in the U.S. is they way they try to recruit people. I hate those employment ads that say. "Pays up to $9.25 an hour". Hence that word pays up to. Not "pays". In my experience you get there and fill out the application and then the rate of pay section and then submit it. They tell you they don't pay that much. I have yet seen a company here in Florida that will actually pay you what your worth. Let lone make wage increases in a decent amount of time with them to make it worth while.

As for going over seas to work in the field is just something I am not willing to do. If your single have no family and have a desire to flirt with fate then its OK I guess. Freedom and democracy is one thing. For a culture that has been killing each other since biblical times it’s not worth it. You’re pretty much on your own over there in Iraq. You may have a command structure and duties to perform but as far as any U.S. backing to an extent you’re screwed. From what I have read about private security over there it’s getting out of control.

No. I’ll stay here and protect the domestic life of capitalism and political bickering.

[ozsecuritychic]

my fiancee works for heinz/watties and is on $20.0 an hour.most people in my town say that the company i work for rip their guards off.how i see it i dont do that much but i dont go looking for trouble like most of the male guards do.i was told if they are aboriginal or have tatoos follow them.my grandfathers mother was aboriginal and i have tattoos.i dont do anything to people who arent doing anything wrong.so how i see it iam paid pretty well.this fortnight i brought home 1.656.23 for 102 hours.

hasnt been converted.