According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 1,105,440 employed security guards in the United States.
You might need a security guard for a number of occasions or reasons. For example, you might need one for an apartment complex, your small business, your club or restaurant, or you might need several security guards for an event such as a concert.
Whatever your requirements, keep reading to discover how much a hired security guard costs.
How to Hire a Security Guard
Often businesses choose to hire a security guard for their businesses or events through a security services provider. These security agencies can help you recruit the right guards for your purposes.
Security hire can be done through conventional ways of hiring people for your business, such as posting job descriptions and interviewing. However, many people find it easier to go through an agency.
If you need to hire a security guard, then you need to ask yourself these questions:
- Do the company do background checks on their security guards?
- Is the security guard company trustworthy?
- Are the security guards properly trained?
It is essential that you pick a company that does background checks. This is because you need to know that the security guards you’re working with are reliable and trustworthy. You should ask the contractor about what kind of checks they have done on their security guards. Common checks include criminal and financial background checks.
Then you need to make sure that the security company is respectable and trustworthy. Have a look at their website and see what experience they have and if it matches your needs. Then have a look at their testimonials and see what other people say about their services.
And finally, you need to make sure that the security guards have all the relevant qualifications to do their jobs. You should also ask the company what training they have provided their security guards with. The bare minimum training should be Occupational First Aid and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System trained. However, if you are looking for a security guard for a specific site, such as warehouses then you also need to ensure that they are trained in vehicle patrol techniques and residential patrol training.
How Much Does Security Cost?
Security guard costs can vary depending on the service you want and how well trained you need your security guard to be. It is important to remember that you get what you pay for, so don’t find a cheap security guard who doesn’t meet your needs.
How do you know what type of security guard you need? There is a whole range of security services and guards that you can hire, including:
- Personal protection for business or personal needs
- Evening escort services for guests or employees walking to cars
- Theft prevention for small businesses (such as shops)
- Ongoing security presence in apartment complexes, buildings, or parking lots
- Crowd control at big events such as concerts and festivals
- Executive protection for a company
- Adherence to venue regulations (if alcohol is being served on the premises)
- Security guards to help deter crime at social and/or business gatherings.
If you aren’t sure what type of security guard you need for your business or event, then ask the security service provider. Some security guards might be a better fit for your requirements than others.
For example, if you want someone to ensure people don’t steal from your shop then you need a theft prevention guard. And it wouldn’t make sense to pay more money for a personal protection guard.
Typical Prices of Security Guards
The cost of your security guard depends on the type of the event, how much security you need, and how qualified you need the security guard to be. Typically, security guards can cost between $15 to $100 per hour.
At the higher end of the price range, you can get fully-qualified and trained security guards who can work in high-threat situations. At the lower end of the price range, you can get a security guard who isn’t trained to act in high-risk situations but can observe and report it to the police.
There is also a price difference in armed and unarmed security guards. Unarmed security guards can cost from $15 up to $20 per hour. While an armed guard will cost around $25 per hour.
Another thing that might affect the pricing is the time of day. Security guards who work late night shifts usually cost more. Inner-city security guards for bars and clubs can cost between $30 and $50 per hour.
You can also recruit the help of an off-duty police officer. This type of security can cost $40 to $60 per hour. You get the added bonus of them being fully trained. However, you do need to contact your local police department to see if this is possible.
Another type of security guard is a bodyguard. Often high-profile people have these security guards. Bodyguards can transport their clients in an armored vehicle and make sure their client isn’t exposed to danger. Bodyguards cost a minimum of $200 per hour and often work on a retainer basis.
If you have any upcoming events where you need a security guard then why not hire security for a convention?
Find Your Hired Security Guard
Finding a hired security guard is a relatively easy task, however, you need to make sure you follow our advice. It is also important to understand that security guards who are more qualified will cost more money. However, if the safety of your employees and customers is very important, so it might be worth spending a little bit more.
Make sure you check out some of our other articles for top tips and insightful interviews.
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