What Is the Pay Salary for Private Police Firms?
Private police firms protect companies and private property against theft, vandalism, terrorism and illegal activities and enforce rules and regulations on company property. They do so through security guards or security officers who have no jurisdiction beyond the area for which they are hired. Their salaries are determined by their employers and by the type of work they do.
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Background
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Private police firms do not usually have minimum educational requirements for their security guards. However, employers generally prefer those with a high school diploma, especially for armed positions. Most companies will train newly hired guards in public relations, report writing, first aid, protection and firearms. Many states require such training for employees to obtain and maintain guard licenses. Licensed guards must also be at least 18 and pass a background check and drug test. They may need further certification if they carry weapons or make arrests on company property. Certification is available from ASIS International. Though not required, this credential can increase opportunities and salaries.
Work
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Officers with private police firms spend much of their time on their feet. They may patrol buildings on foot or larger areas using security vehicles. Some may be assigned to static stations where they can monitor activities or inspect the credentials of people who enter or leave a building. Shifts typically last eight hours or longer and may rotate through day, evening, night and weekend schedules in areas that need protection 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that as of May 2010, security guards made a mean $12.92 per hour or $26,870 per year.
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Employers
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Over half of the country’s one million security guards worked for private police firms, where mean salaries ran $12.02 per hour or $25,010 per year. Other industries that hire many security guards included local government, with mean wages of $15.56 per hour or $32,360, and general medical and surgical hospitals at $14.91 per hour or $31,010 per year. The highest salaries were in taxi and limousine services, where private police officers often escorted clients who hired chauffeured vehicles. Salaries here reached a mean $25.15 per hour or $52,300 per year.
Locations
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Locations with high populations had the best opportunities for private police firms. California was at the top with over 13 percent of the positions and pay at $12.88 per hour or $26,790 per year. New York City also had many of the jobs with almost 8 percent of the total and mean wages at $13.76 per hour or $28,630 per year. The top paying state was the District of Columbia at a mean $18.21 per hour or $37,870 per year. The top-paying city was Ithaca, New York, at $22.47 per hour or $46,740 per year.
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References
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