Short answer
How much do security guards cost in California?
Ongoing security guard coverage in California runs $26.35 to $33.61 per hour per officer, all-inclusive. Rates start at $26.35/hr in lower-cost markets like Oakland and reach about $33.61/hr for light schedules in San Francisco. Two things move your number: the city the site is in, and how many hours a week you need — more weekly hours means a lower hourly rate, so 24/7 coverage prices below a part-time post.
One-off and short-term assignments start at $45.00/hr because a single job carries setup cost an ongoing contract spreads out. Armed officers are quoted per site. All figures are month-to-month with no hidden fees, billed net-15 after coverage begins, from a BSIS-licensed provider (PPO #15063).
Get your exact rateSecurity guard cost by California city
The market a site sits in sets the floor, because officer pay tracks the local cost of labour. Below is what ongoing coverage runs across every market we staff, at three common volumes. Click a market for its local page.
| Market | 24/7 coverage | Part-time (84+ hrs/wk) | Light (40 hrs/wk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland | $26.35 | $28.38 | $30.40 |
| Orange County | $26.36 | $28.39 | $30.42 |
| Sacramento | $26.36 | $28.39 | $30.42 |
| Inland Empire | $26.36 | $28.39 | $30.42 |
| Fresno | $26.36 | $28.39 | $30.42 |
| Bakersfield | $26.36 | $28.39 | $30.42 |
| San Diego | $26.91 | $28.98 | $31.05 |
| West Los Angeles | $26.94 | $29.01 | $31.09 |
| San Fernando Valley | $26.94 | $29.01 | $31.09 |
| Los Angeles | $27.88 | $30.02 | $32.17 |
| San Jose | $28.00 | $30.16 | $32.31 |
| Long Beach | $28.03 | $30.19 | $32.35 |
| San Francisco | $29.13 | $31.37 | $33.61 |
Per officer, per hour, all-inclusive. Ongoing month-to-month coverage, 2026 rates. Run the quote tool for your exact figure.
What actually changes your rate
Two variables do most of the work, and one of them is entirely in your control.
1. Where the site is
A post in San Francisco or San Jose costs more per hour than the same post in Fresno or the Inland Empire. This is labour cost, not a premium — coastal and Bay Area markets pay officers more, and a rate that ignored that would mean an officer who quits in three weeks.
2. How many hours a week you need
This is the lever worth understanding: more weekly hours means a lower hourly rate. A 24/7 post prices meaningfully below a two-nights-a-week post in the same city. Buyers are often surprised that going from partial to full coverage does not double the bill the way they expect.
3. Armed vs unarmed
Unarmed officers handle the large majority of commercial work — deterrence, access control, documentation, escalation. Armed coverage costs more (firearms qualification, permits, and insurance carry real cost) and is quoted per site. If an insurer or a documented threat requires it, it is worth it; if not, unarmed is usually the right economic answer.
4. Ongoing vs one-off
A single event or a one-week fill-in prices higher per hour than an ongoing contract. Setup — scheduling, briefing, travel, supervision — is a fixed cost that a long engagement spreads across many hours and a one-day job does not.
Monthly cost by coverage schedule
Hourly figures are hard to budget against. Here is what the schedules people actually buy cost per month, for one officer.
| Schedule | Hrs/week | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 — one officer on post around the clock | 168 | $27.88 | $20,072 |
| Overnight 12h, 7 nights (6pm–6am) | 84 | $30.02 | $10,808 |
| Off-hours (weeknights + full weekends) | 108 | $30.02 | $13,896 |
| Overnight 8h, 7 nights (10pm–6am) | 56 | $32.17 | $7,720 |
| Business hours (9–5, weekdays) | 40 | $32.17 | $5,514 |
Los Angeles rates as the example market; your city may run higher or lower — see the table above. One officer per shift.
What the rate includes
A quoted hourly rate should be the number you pay. Ours covers all of it:
- The officer's wage and full employment burden
- Uniform and equipment
- Field supervision and a dedicated point of contact
- GPS-verified patrol rounds and timestamped reporting
- Daily activity reports and incident notifications
- Access to the 24-hour command center
- General liability and workers compensation coverage
No setup fees, no equipment surcharges, no overtime padding, and no long-term contract — month-to-month with a two-month minimum on ongoing coverage, billed net-15 after service begins.
Quotes that should worry you
Cost matters, but in this industry the cheapest number is frequently the most expensive decision. Watch for:
- A rate near the local minimum wage.Once you account for employment burden, insurance, supervision, and equipment, a rate that low means something is being skipped — usually the insurance, or the officer's legal classification.
- Subcontracted officers. If the company staffing your post is not the company you signed with, training standards and accountability are not enforceable.
- No verifiable patrol record. A signed paper log proves nothing — it can be filled in anywhere. Ask how rounds are verified.
- No BSIS licence number on the proposal. Every legitimate California provider holds a Private Patrol Operator licence. Ours is PPO #15063, and you can verify it with the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.
- A quote that requires a sales call to see. If a provider will not show you a number without a meeting, the number is being tailored to what they think you will pay.
How to lower what you spend
- Consolidate hours instead of scattering them. Fewer, longer shifts price better per hour than the same total spread thin.
- Consider vehicle patrol over a fixed post. For large acreage, multiple buildings, or quiet overnight periods, a marked patrol hitting the site on a randomised schedule costs a fraction of a stationed officer and often deters just as effectively.
- Use unarmed unless armed is genuinely required. Most commercial risk does not need a firearm on site.
- Put multiple sites on one agreement. One point of contact and one invoice across locations is simpler and prices better than separate deals.
Getting your actual number
Everything above is a range. Your rate depends on your city and your schedule, and you can see it in about two minutes without talking to anyone — the quote tool returns firm hourly, monthly, and annual figures, holds the rate for 7 days, and emails you our licence, insurance certificate, and W-9 with it. Or call (424) 263-2559 — the command center is staffed 24 hours.
