Pay Rates

[robvancamp]

We work in a field that is notrious for asking too much and paying too little. I would venture to say, that most of the folks in this forum remain in the field because, ultimately, they enjoy the work, and are anxious to make changes for the better in the industry.

I guess this is more of a poll than anything, but what I'd like to know is - what is the starting rate where you are? I don't want your names or company's names, just an entry level starting wage, and a first time supervisor's wage if you know it. I'm also curious as to benefits.

The particular place where I work starts its Officers @ $11.25 per hour, with great benefits. The average in the City (San Francisco) is about $12.00 for entry level contract security Officers, and about $13.00 for experienced Officers.

[N. A. Corbier]

$7.00 - $8.00 an hour, entry level.

Average for this area is 8.50 to 10.00 per hour.

[ff000525]

I live in the same area as NA, but I started at 10.35, just got a raise to 10.60..... the client thinks the more people are paid the longer they'll stay, people rarely last 2 months at my site, for some reason I've made it to 4 months..... the benifits stink though (and they were hella expensive), so I declined them and stayed on my wife's (she works at a hospital, good beni's).

[Mr. Security]

Entry level = $9/Hr. Experienced = $10 to 11/hr. Asst. Superv. = $12-14/hr. Superv. = $14-16/hr.

And yes, I work security because I choose to, not because I need to. I do not foresee any significant changes regarding compensation in the near future. Publicly, s/o's are basically in the same class as clerks, janitors, waiters, and other blue collar service providers.

[N. A. Corbier]

Entry level = $9/Hr. Experienced = $10 to 11/hr. Asst. Superv. = $12-14/hr. Superv. = $14-16/hr.

And yes, I work security because I choose to, not because I need to. I do not foresee any significant changes regarding compensation in the near future. Publicly, s/o's are basically in the same class as clerks, janitors, waiters, and other blue collar service providers.

Um, those people get paid more than us.

[Jackhole]

I'm really not sure what the average is for this area, I'm pretty new here.

I make $10.85 base pay. My shift has a $0.25 differential and midnights has a $1 differential. We're all getting a base pay raise of $1.50-$2/hr. in June.

[IB107]

in utah it is varied.... from 8.00 - 11.50 (for unarmed) and any were from 10.00-14.00 armed is usually the pay rates ... but most are in the 9-10 hr range. but a few factories etc pay higher because of the mandated 12 hrs shifts and non - benefit status of the s/os, that is why i will always work contract :P usually there is a "Benny" pack included with the pay :P

[Jackhole]

in utah it is varied.... from 8.00 - 11.50 (for unarmed) and any were from 10.00-14.00 armed is usually the pay rates ... but most are in the 9-10 hr range. but a few factories etc pay higher because of the mandated 12 hrs shifts and non - benefit status of the s/os, that is why i will always work contract :P usually there is a "Benny" pack included with the pay :P

So in-house won't provide benefits, but contract will? That's strange, don't you think?

I worked as a contractor for a little while and hated it. Always in-house after that.

[IB107]

well with utahs big industrial industy they go for the cheapest labor possible, since utah is a right to work state, the republicians make benes very expensive for companies to provided but some contractors nego them with the building owners/property owners etc, but the republicans also keep a gun in my hand too :P we dont have "strict" security laws because of it either,.... but yea.. thats the fun of utan, we can do almost anything the pd can in a sense, if your a armed guard, except to use red lights, and use physical force, as our laws stand :P well of course there are things we wont do because it would be borderline of the laws.. and no one wants to walk tight ropes :P

[Ms. Enforcer]

With my company entery level is $9hr (experience 12hr), Investigators/Supervisors-$16hr.

[Blame_The_Guard]

............ I would venture to say, that most of the folks in this forum remain in the field because, ultimately, they enjoy the work, and are anxious to make changes for the better in the industry.

............ I don't want your names or company's names, just an entry level starting wage, and a first time supervisor's wage if you know it.

............ I'm also curious as to benefits.

Why am I in the field?..... I was a night club entertainer for 30 years. Since, in those days, there was a club, with live entertainment, on about every street corner (slight exageration), we (entertainers) all figured we'd become agents when we got tired of the night club grind, or started to look a little funny on stage because of our age. That was the way it had always gone..... entertainer for 30 yrs, or so, then agent for the rest of your life. Agents made good money. Unfortunately, none of us forsaw the decline of live night club entertainment, in the mid 90s, so there we were left standing with our thumbs in our... well, and no future. There are a lot of us wandering around with a stunned look on our faces wondering what happened.....haha. Anyway, I fell into this by accident about 12 years ago and have been opening gates, checking IDs, driving cars with steel sides, getting shot at (once), and, generally, ticking people off ever since.

Starting pay here (St. Pete, Fl) is usually aroung 8 bucks.... some pay better. I make 9.20 at an upscale gated community.... have been there 5yrs through 3 different providers. Supervisors average a dollar, or so, more.

Benifits? ...yeah, right!
..... the following is an excerpt from my page http://www.geocities.com/offbrothers2000/Tired.html

"Benefits, such as health insurance, are available at a cost of only a few dollars more than your weekly salary. If you clear 300 dollars a week, you will only have to come up with another 20 or 30 dollars a week to take advantage of this benefit. Most security companies offer paid vacations. After working all year for 15 thousand dollars, I like to take my family to Hawaii or on a world cruise for those 5 days."

John the Gateboy

[SgtUSMC8541]

Depends on the site.

I have everything from $9.00 an hour at a great site to study, all the way up to $16 for unarmed and $18 - $20 for Armed (Great corp site) Supervisors make more but I am not posting what.

[Echos13]

I prefer corporate security and in-house developed security. But they are hard to come by these days. Seems most companies are contracting to save money. Loss prevention was my thing for about seven years but it got lagged down with departments getting merged together. I was going to go back into LE in identification forensics but can't afford another four years of college. I am still paying on the last school loan. My present job is history in about another week but will be a relief on call person if I can swing it. I was making 12.35 AH there. But the calls were falling off and they are down to five employees so the writing was on the wall after six years. They only specialize in escort details for limited areas of clients. And the boss is starting to do more PI and gun training now and I think the secrurity area is fast becoming a past thing. I am starting out at 11.50 with the new job. Kind of strange being in uniform again. Supervisors are making about 13.00 or so. They get Jeeps to drive though. Lucky stiffs.

[CAR54]

Here in Los Angeles the pay, on average, seems to range from around $8 to $11 for unarmed and $10 to $14 for armed. Of course there are exceptions. One armed site at my company starts at $18 per hour but those spots usually go to retired or ex law enforcement.

It's also important to remember the pay in a given area is going to reflect the cost of living (rent etc) in that area.

Why am I working in security?. I worked in the advertising, illustration and animation field for many years and burned through a ton of money, figuring I'd keep making it until I retired. But the tight deadlines for illustrators eventually took their toll on me and the animation industry changed with most of the jobs going to kids right out of school who know all the latest software. I still occasionally get calls for work in those fields, but I needed some stability in my life and got tired of constantly going from feast to famine. Of course now I'm always living at the famine level, but at least I know where I'll be working each day and what I'll be doing. And my wife thinks I look good in a uniform.

[T202]

Starting out for a security company around here pays about $9.00@hr. In-house at a good company will be in the $14.00@hr range. I am scheduled 24 hrs a week and I get sick time and vacation time, also a 401K where the company kicks in 6% of your annual pay.