What a security guard actually costs in Sacramento — 2026 rate card
Sacramento hourly security rates in 2026 land between $28–$38 unarmed and $38–$55 armed. Mobile patrol drops to $15/night when shared across a route. Below is the sourced breakdown.
Unarmed guard rate range
$28–$38/hr covers wages above the BLS OES 33-9032 published median for the Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade MSA, employer taxes, workers' comp, liability insurance, uniform, radio, and supervisor overhead.
Armed guard rate range
$38–$55/hr adds BSIS Firearms Permit training, weapon/ammo, higher liability tier, and monthly re-qualification. Armed is warranted for cash-in-transit, high-value retail, dispensary, and abatement work.
Mobile patrol per-night pricing
Route-shared patrol distributes vehicle, fuel, dispatch, and officer wages across 10–20 stops. Per-property cost falls to $15/night for 3–5 nightly tours with GPS timestamps.
What drives price up
Fire watch (+$8/hr), holiday uplift (+25%), event surge (+30% cap), armed uplift, and after-hours dispatch. All caps published in the MSA.
What buyers should refuse to pay
Undisclosed 'admin fees', unspecified overtime multipliers, or any quote where the wage line item is redacted.
Sources
- BLS OES 33-9032, Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade MSA (May 2024)
- CA BSIS Firearms Permit fee schedule
- Stormhammer 2026 public rate card
FAQ — Security Guard Cost in Sacramento (2026)
$28–$38/hr covers wages above the BLS OES 33-9032 published median for the Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade MSA, employer taxes, workers' comp, liability insurance, uniform, radio, and supervisor overhead.
$38–$55/hr adds BSIS Firearms Permit training, weapon/ammo, higher liability tier, and monthly re-qualification. Armed is warranted for cash-in-transit, high-value retail, dispensary, and abatement work.
Keep learning and vetting
Related buyer guides
- Guide: How to Hire a Security Guard in SacramentoStep-by-step Sacramento security hiring guide: verify BSIS PPO, insurance, wages, dispatch, and MSA. Free vetting checklist inside.
- Guide: Armed vs Unarmed Security Guard — When Each WinsWhen you actually need an armed guard vs unarmed. Sacramento decision matrix by property type, cost delta, and insurance impact.
- Guide: California Security Guard License — Everything to VerifyHow to verify a California security guard license, PPO, guard card, and firearms permit. Instant BSIS lookup steps inside.
- Guide: California Security Guard Laws — Powers & LimitsThe California statutes governing private security: arrest authority (PC §837), use of force, detain-and-hold, and civil liability. Sourced.
- Guide: HOA Security Playbook — SacramentoSacramento HOA board playbook: patrol frequency, insurance, tour logs, resident comms, and the exact clauses to put in your MSA.
- Guide: Construction Site Security PlaybookSacramento construction site security playbook: copper theft, tool loss, fire watch, and the exact tour SLA to demand from your vendor.
Verified guards by suburb
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Stormhammer vs the competition
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