Last updated: December 29, 2025 (rates change fast due to labor availability, insurance, and site risk).
Typical hourly rates (ballpark):
- Unarmed security guard: ~$15–$30 per hour (common starting range; varies by location and duties).
- Armed security guard: ~$25–$60+ per hour (training, licensing, and liability typically increase the bill rate).
If you need 1 guard post 24/7 (one position staffed all day):
- Monthly ballpark: Hourly rate × ~720 hours/month (24 hours × 30 days).
- Annual ballpark: Many cost guides translate 24/7/365 coverage into roughly $130,000/year (at $15/hr) up to ~$438,000/year (at $50/hr) for one post, before any site-specific add-ons.
Quick disclaimers: Real quotes depend on location, hours, number of posts, risk level, guard qualifications, and whether you’re blending on-site guards with technology.
Key Takeaways
- Unarmed guard pricing is commonly cited around $15–$30/hr, while armed guard pricing is commonly cited around $25–$60+/hr.
- One 24/7 post can realistically land in the “hundreds of thousands per year” range, depending on hourly rate assumptions.
- The billed rate is not just wages—coverage includes scheduling, supervision, insurance, compliance, and other overhead that varies by provider and site requirements.
Hourly Cost (Armed vs Unarmed)
Typical hourly pricing ranges
- Unarmed guard (most common ballpark): $15–$30/hour.
- Armed guard (common ballpark): $25–$60+/hour depending on assignment risk and requirements.
What You’re Paying For (Why Billed Rate ≠ Wages)
Client rates usually bundle more than “guard pay,” including recruiting, scheduling coverage, supervision, insurance, training, and operational overhead that varies by provider and post orders.
Monthly Cost for 24/7 Security (One Post)
The simplest 24/7 math (One Post)
Use this formula for a fast budget number:
Monthly cost = hourly rate × 720 hours (24×30)
Worked examples (Inputs → Outputs)
Example A (Unarmed, 1 post 24/7):
- Inputs: $20/hr × 720 hrs/month × 1 post
- Output: ~$14,400/month (rate shown is within commonly cited unarmed ranges).
Example B (Armed, 1 post 24/7):
- Inputs: $40/hr × 720 hrs/month × 1 post
- Output: ~$28,800/month (rate shown is within commonly cited armed ranges).
Example C (Two posts at once, 24/7 coverage):
- Inputs: $25/hr × 720 hrs/month × 2 posts
- Output: ~$36,000/month (this is what happens when you need two simultaneous positions staffed 24/7—cost multiplies by posts).
Annual Cost (Why it Gets Expensive)
The 24/7 Annual Reality
There are 8,760 hours in a 24/7/365 year, so 24-hour coverage adds up quickly even at lower hourly rates. Many pricing guides illustrate that one 24/7 post can run roughly $130,000/year at $15/hr up to ~$438,000/year at $50/hr, before site add-ons or premium requirements.
What Changes The Price (Cost Factors)
Use this checklist when comparing quotes (and when explaining costs to stakeholders):
- Armed vs. unarmed: Armed posts generally price higher due to training/licensing and liability exposure.
- Risk level & duties: High-risk sites, hands-on enforcement, or specialized roles can push hourly rates above base ranges.
- Location & labor market: Local wages and guard availability can shift the band you land in.
- Schedule complexity: Nights, holidays, and last-minute staffing can raise costs (and reduce vendor flexibility).
- Number of posts (simultaneous coverage): Costs scale with how many positions must be staffed at the same time.
Scenario cards (Real-World Budgeting)
Retail store (lower-to-moderate risk)
- Often fits unarmed coverage for visibility, deterrence, and incident reporting (depending on local risk).
- Budget method: hourly rate × hours needed (e.g., evenings + weekends) instead of full 24/7.
Construction site (after-hours theft risk)
- Common approach: nights + weekends on-site guard, plus cameras and alarms for off-hours monitoring.
- Budget method: blend partial on-site hours with technology to reduce total staffed hours.
High-risk site (regulated, high-value, or history of incidents)
- May require armed guards or more experienced personnel, increasing hourly rates compared to base ranges.
- Budget method: plan for higher hourly rates, more posts, and tighter post orders.
Mini 24/7 Cost Estimator (No-JS)
Fill in the “Your rate” cell, then multiply.
Guard type (unarmed or armed)
- Your number:
Your hourly rate ($/hr)
- Your number:
Hours per day
- Your number: 24
Days per month
- Your number: 30
Number of posts (simultaneous positions)
- Your number:
Estimator math:
- Monthly = hourly rate × hours/day × days/month × posts
- Annual = monthly × 12
Tip: If you’re using ballparks, unarmed often starts around $15–$30/hr and armed around $25–$60+/hr in many guides.
How to Reduce Cost (without reducing protection)
- Right-size coverage hours: Many sites don’t need 24/7 on-site staffing—focus staffed coverage on the highest-risk hours.
- Blend guards + tech: Use cameras, alarms, access control, and (when appropriate) remote/virtual monitoring to reduce staffed hours while keeping oversight.
- Clarify post orders: Tighter duties and clearer escalation paths reduce “scope creep” that can drive staffing levels up.
- Contract strategy: Longer agreements can improve staffing stability and reduce the likelihood of premium rush coverage (vendor-specific).
Pricing FAQ
How much does 24/7 security cost per month for one guard post?
A fast ballpark is hourly rate × ~720 hours/month; using commonly cited hourly ranges (unarmed ~$15–$30/hr; armed ~$25–$60+/hr) gives a wide budget window that must be narrowed by site details.
What’s the difference in cost between armed and unarmed 24-hour security?
Armed coverage is commonly priced higher than unarmed because armed roles require additional training/licensing and generally carry higher liability exposure.
Why does 24-hour security cost hundreds of thousands per year?
Because one post requires 8,760 staffed hours/year, and some guides estimate about ~$130k/year at $15/hr up to ~$438k/year at $50/hr for continuous coverage (before add-ons).
Is remote/virtual monitoring cheaper than on-site guards?
Some cost breakdowns present technology and remote monitoring as a way to reduce staffed hours (and therefore total cost), especially when a full 24/7 on-site presence isn’t required.
Check other blogs
Loss Prevention in Restaurants: Tips & Strategy Steps
Where Do Security Guards Work? Top Locations Explained
How to Stop Trespassers: 10 Tips and Handling Unauthorized
How to Sweep for Bugs and Hidden Cameras: Step‑by‑Step Guide
